FHA And Applicances (10/5/16)

[PhiloFarnsworth]

Q: Are we required to test the appliances?

A: No, we are not testing the appliances; we are operating the appliances and observing their performance.

Before becoming and appraiser, I had worked over the years in several building trades doing repair and maintenance. When I had a job of diagnosing what kind of problem might be present in any mechanical system, the first thing (or nearly first thing) I would do would be to attempt to operate such an item or system and then observe its performance. This would be what I and my peers would describe as testing them.
As I understand that when the government a word, they, like Humpty Dumpty, uses them to mean " just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.” But the reason for the obfuscation is just so difficult to grasp. Could it be that language is chosen to make the government perpetually in the right and the citizen perpetually walking the razor thin line of punishable crime?

 

[residentialguy]

Could it be that language is chosen to make the government perpetually in the right and the citizen perpetually walking the razor thin line of punishable crime?

Welcome to GSE world. Fannie is no different...filled with double edged swords They love giving appraisers enough rope to hang themselves with.

 

[djd09]

Do FHA appraisers take pictures of the stove operating? How does one prove they turned it on?

 

[djd09]

You're not testing appliances.

You cannot observe without testing.

 

[RSW]

Do FHA appraisers take pictures of the stove operating? How does one prove they turned it on?

I do.

 

[djd09]

HUD to Make Changes to Appliance Language in Handbook 4000.1
At a July 2016 meeting of regulators and appraisal professionals hosted by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), a HUD representative stated that the language in Handbook 4000.1 regarding appliances is going to be revised on or around September of 2016. The HUD representative stated that the exact language of the revision was still being worked on, and that it would be a clarification of the existing requirement. The current language in the Handbook states, “The Appraiser must note appliances present in the house at the time of observation and indicate whether that appliance is considered Personal Property or Real Property. The Appraiser must operate all conveyed appliances and observe their performance. The Appraiser must notify the Mortgagee of the deficiency of MPR or MPS if any conveyed appliances are inoperable.”

http://blog.mckissock.com/HUD-to-make-changes-to-appliance-language-in-handbook-4000.1

The big announcement and nothing really change? You notice it is a HUD rep without a name.

 

[Meandering]

You cannot observe without testing.

Sure I can.

I can watch anything,
I don't have to test anything to watch it.

Stove are easy to take photos of when working.

Ovens are the real deal killer in a photo, because the look the same on as off.

.

 

[djd09]

There is no touching in observing. Now when you "turn on" the stove this is no longer observing. And testing is the only way to find out if something is "operational".

 

[djd09]

They must suffering from the lack of attention. Didn't they just have a grand new handbook with no changes?

 

[JTip]

Do FHA appraisers take pictures of the stove operating? How does one prove they turned it on?

Here's a 1004D pic I took last week. $125 to flip 'er on. lol