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Noteworthy News

A Newsletter of Noteworthy Property Inspections

April 2006

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A message from Martin Grant, Owner/Chief Inspector, Noteworthy Property Inspections:

"This month marks the California Real Estate Inspection Association's (CREIA) publication of its revised Standards of Practice (SOPs). Please read about the revised standards, and their benefits for the consumer. We have attached a draft copy of the new CREIA inspection contract and revised SOPs for your reference. With the release of the updated SOPs we are taking the opportunity to provide you with an overview of Real Estate Inspection Law in California. Even though there is no licensing, there are some legal standards applicable to Home Inspections.

There are federal tax credits available this year for home owners installing certain energy efficiency upgrades in their homes. We have included a summary of some of the main credits as well as links to obtain more information.

California law requires that water heaters be properly braced upon sale of a property. As home inspectors, we often see unbraced or improperly braced water heaters. We have attached the State Architect's guideline document for your reference. This document defines the acceptable options for bracing water heaters.

Finally, I will be one of the exhibitors at the South Bay Association of Realtors Trade Fair on May 5 at the Torrance Marriott. Please stop by our booth to say hello and enter our door prize drawing. Details of the event can be found at www.realtortradefair.com."

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Featured in this issue of Noteworthy News......

(click on each headline for the full story)

CREIA Revises Standards of Practice to Protect Consumer - (CREIA's latest press release details their newly revised Standards of Practice, and how they benefit the consumer.)
CREIA Inspection Contract and SOPs - (Preview a draft copy of the new CREIA Contract and SOPs. Anyone familiar with the old documents will appreciate the greatly simplified and shortened information. Typically any CREIA inspector will use this, or a similar contract document.)
Overview of Real Estate Inspection Law in California - (Most people are aware that there is no licensing of home inspectors in California, however there are laws and legal precedences which apply. This document summarizes the currently applicable information.)
Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency Upgrades - (A summary of the Federal Tax credits available to the home owner in 2006 for energy efficiency upgrades in the home.)
Guidelines for Earthquake Bracing of Residential Water Heaters - (This is the State Architect's recently updated document which provides the acceptable options for bracing water heaters.)

(For more information and links visit our web site at www.NoteworthyPI.com )
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