Crawl Space not readily accessible

[Frederick]

They built a deck over the crawl space access and told me I had to crawl 12' under the deck to get to the crawl space access panel. The guy said he forgot his overalls but would get them for me. As I stood there watching the rain fall looking at the saturated backyard, I said, yeah sure, I'll get back to you on that.

Completed the report noting the condition.

OK, how do you all see this playing out?

 

[Peter LeQuire]

I'd guess that, unless the deck was so close to the ground that you couldn't get to the access door, HUD would require you to get your knees muddy.

 

[Ross (CO)]

There are always the words "not readily accessable or observable" that one will have already mentioned at least twice in the report, and equally supported by inclusion of a flash-photo from under that deck that shows the definite limitations created by the construction OF that deck where it is...and thus a distinct inability for one to view a location which, in most other NORMAL situations, WOULD be observable. The appraiser is NOT responsible for property abnormalities.

Mr. Client....your borrower/homeowner has this unique aspect about HIS property. I've done my appraisal to the best of my ability, noting this one limitation, and someone needs to consider just how this transaction is to proceed.

(to Frederick)...Any chance that there is a horizontal heating unit or short-stubby water heater down there in the crawlspace ? If so, how might they be removed if any replacement became necessary in the future ? Perhaps, building that deck where they did was NOT such a good idea, after all.

Ah hah.....remove the deck, do the head-and-shoulders thing inside the access hatch, and then put the deck back in place ! Or, have the homeowner tell his son to crawl under there, open the access hatch, stick his arms and head in there, and take one flash picture to the left, one straight ahead, and one to the right. Hand the camera back to the appraiser, have him check if any are usable for the report, and save them all for the workfile. How serious is the appraiser's client to thinking outside-the-box ? How seriously does this person want their re-fi ? - - We do not know exactly who "the guy" is within the entire scenario.

 

[timd354]

They built a deck over the crawl space access and told me I had to crawl 12' under the deck to get to the crawl space access panel. The guy said he forgot his overalls but would get them for me. As I stood there watching the rain fall looking at the saturated backyard, I said, yeah sure, I'll get back to you on that.

Completed the report noting the condition.

OK, how do you all see this playing out?

I am guessing that you will get stipped and will be asked to inspect the crawl space as the FHA will not guarantee the loan unless there is adequate access to the crawl space.

I would not have crawled 12 feet under a deck either and I do not believe that the situation you describe is adequate access to the crawl space. The homeowner would need to put a trap door in the deck right where the crawl space access in order for their to be adequate access IMHO.

 

[timd354]

I'd guess that, unless the deck was so close to the ground that you couldn't get to the access door, HUD would require you to get your knees muddy.

HUD and the lender can call a home inspector....it is simply not part of the SOW for an appraisal to crawl 12 feet under a deck.

 

[Lobo Fan]

The answer is that FHA will require you to stick your head in the crawl space until you can see all the corners. The lender is the one required to provide proper access, so that is where your negotiations will start.

It will depend on how you completed the report. If you completed "as-is" with an assupmtion then they might push it through. By the rules it should have been completed subject-to. Of course the lender will think you did it just to milk another trip fee, but in this case I doubt it is worth a trip fee.

I had a similar situation with a hornet's nest the size of my head hanging just inside the crawl space access. I carefully stuck my camera in and shot four or five different angles then ran like hell. I hate those things. I would rather see a rattlesnake, which happended on a MH repo appraisal once.

People complete FHA appraisals all the time without going under the house or into the attic. It is your signature stating that the subject meets FHA minimum standards.

 

[Ken B]

I don't crawl under decks.

I'll stoop and maybe even crouch walk if there is no mud or spiders.

But I don't crawl. The need to crawl makes something less than readily accessible.

 

[Mr Rex]

I would have crawled under there and added $100 to my fee. He walks, he talks, put him on his belly he crawls like a reptile, only $100 to see the show. Step right up and pay the man to your right with the coveralls on.

 

[timd354]

.

I had a similar situation with a hornet's nest the size of my head hanging just inside the crawl space access. I carefully stuck my camera in and shot four or five different angles then ran like hell. .

Man, you must be nuts and you are lucky as hell the hornets did'nt sting you. If I see a hornets nest in the crawl space, I am unquestionably conditioning the report on an exterminator removing the hornets and am further conditioning the report on an inspection of the crawl space after the exterminator has done his work.

 

[RSW]

Why would you complete the appraisal subject to the inspection of the crawl space when the Revised Appendix D says to call the lender and schedule a time when access has been provided. I called the Atlanta HOC on one yesterday where there was no access to an attic and they told me that I am not to complete the appraisal until the attic is inspected by the appraiser.