Carbon monoxide detector inspection!

[CAvalue101]

Has anyone been asked to check and verify if the property has Carbon monoxide detector??

As of July 1st, it is California's state law to have detectors on every house. Now the AMC has asked to check for carbon detector and which it was their lender requirement!!

Is this even appraiser's related inspection/job duty?? Where does U.S.PAP. stand on this?

 

[panappr]

I'm currently buying units, and it is a lender condition that they must be installed, but the appraisal is finished, and they have not been installed yet. In addition, the water heater isn't strapped, missing bedroom doors, and they are not yet finished repairing the walls in one kitchen. But their were no conditions on the appraisal?????

 

[miktay]

In the good ol' days, our job was to estimate market value.

 

[Randolph Kinney]

USPAP has something about SOW, which is influenced by client requirements.

The state does not have any requirements for the appraiser to check for a CO detector. The state does require the Realtor to check for a CO detector and put that information in the transfer disclosure statement.

If you believe this mandated state law for CO detectors affects health and safety, you could write it up and condition the report for home sales after July 1. But, any other code violation is also a health and safety concern. Once you start down this road, you should be testing the CO detector to make sure it is operational.

Personally, I am not a home inspector or expert in testing electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems. If this were an FHA appraisal, I would note it. Anything else, I would not, unless it is a client imposed requirement.

How Is The Law Enforced: People requesting homeowner loans will have to show that they have installed carbon monoxide detectors in their homes.

http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_0151-0200/sb_183_cfa_20090526_141751_sen_floor.html

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Take a picture of it. Push the button and report as follows.

The picture above shows the CO detector. I pushed the test button and the alarm sounded. I am not an expert in CO dectectors. I cannot certify the detector will work, only that the alarm did work as of the date of inspection. You may want to hire a certified CO detector expert.

Stupid but get the monkey off your back.

BTW, what good is a CO detector in an all electric home?

 

[Lloyd Bonafide]

what good is a CO detector in an all electric home?

Good point, although I don't see too many all-electric homes in this area.

Technically, the state law in CA says the detectors are only required in homes with a fossil fuel-burning heater or appliance, or a fireplace, or an attached garage.

I have two clients who actually require them now, even for a conventional loan. :Eyecrazy:

 

[sunster]

I just received an e-mail from a client yesterday informing me that carbon monoxide detectors are now required, and we appraisers are now obligated to report if the subject property has one or not.

I didn't even know what a carbon monoxide detector looked like, so I Googled it. Turns out, most devices look like smoke alarms or wall thermostats. Most of them shown on the Home Depot website cost $30 to $60.

So I take it if a house is deficient, the owner can buy one at the local hardware store, plug it in and now they're compliant, right?

 

[Lloyd Bonafide]

I don't understand why this has become an issue all of a sudden.

25 or 30 states already have similar laws, but this new law gets passed in CA and now it's an appraisal issue for multiple clients?

 

[NORTON]

Take a picture of it. Push the button and report as follows.

The picture above shows the CO detector. I pushed the test button and the alarm sounded. I am not an expert in CO dectectors. I cannot certify the detector will work, only that the alarm did work as of the date of inspection. You may want to hire a certified CO detector expert.

Stupid but get the monkey off your back.

BTW, what good is a CO detector in an all electric home?

in California, if the home has an attached garage it needs an alarm.

 

[CAvalue101]

I just got a picture of it when it was turned on. I am going to include a 1 paragraph statement in regards to holding me HARMLESS of ANY and ALL liabilities for any unknown materials that could include carbon monoxide. Including that I am not an expert, blah, blah, blah.