FHA Attic Access

[residentialguy]

Read this letter from HUD to an appraiser for not inspecting the attic.

In other words, the dipsht forgot to bring his ladder.

 

[scott1]

I hope at a mimimum the appraiser in his or her (Mr.) right mind had protested and appealed the review. An appraiser should not risk a situation that MAY have the possibility of injury. I am suspecting the letter was sent to you. I may be wrong. Many fellow appraisers, and a few of the ones I have seen at CE classes would never climb a ladder. I have seen appraisers come to CE class with walkers and oxygen. This has nothing to do with equal employment opportunity. If you can't climb steps you should not be stating that you are out in the field inspecting homes.
I now have questions and will contact William Robinson personally to clear the air for all FHA appraisers, and if not satisfied I will start my own campaign. I have been called mad dog in the past. Not much has changed. I never hesitat to contact the higher ups or question authority.
Someone once said to me, "This is the way we do it, this is the way its done, this is the way I was trained to do it, and that is that."
That doesn't cut it with me. Question authority! It's what makes as American.

Scott

 

[residentialguy]

You do FHA appraisals and don't carry a ladder? Do you appraise in Lilliput?

How do you stick your head & shoulders through a 8' ceiling scuttle without a ladder?

Maybe this is you

with a Cougar Reality Chick!

 

[Delta85]

I thought it was the homeowners responsibility to provide access to to all areas, including the attic. Isn't that the wording?

I don't carry a ladder. I'm not a contractor. And depending on the home and location of the attic a regular sized step ladder or 6 footer may not be enough. What then? I don't have a contractors truck to carry a variety of ladders.

 

[RSW]

I thought it was the homeowners responsibility to provide access to to all areas, including the attic. Isn't that the wording?

I don't carry a ladder. I'm not a contractor. And depending on the home and location of the attic a regular sized step ladder or 6 footer may not be enough. What then? I don't have a contractors truck to carry a variety of ladders.

You are correct. It is the homeowner's responsibility to provide access to the attic. If access is not provided then the subject will be rejected by the FHA until access is provided. What is so hard to understand about that. Not all properties will qualify for the FHA program. This is an underwriting issue and not an appraisal issue.

 

[residentialguy]

I thought it was the homeowners responsibility to provide access to to all areas, including the attic. Isn't that the wording?

I don't carry a ladder. I'm not a contractor. And depending on the home and location of the attic a regular sized step ladder or 6 footer may not be enough. What then? I don't have a contractors truck to carry a variety of ladders.

I do a lot of vacant homes and if I don't bring my ladder, I will be within my rights....I'll also be out of work.

 

[Peter LeQuire]

You are correct. It is the homeowner's responsibility to provide access to the attic. If access is not provided then the subject will be rejected by the FHA until access is provided. What is so hard to understand about that. Not all properties will qualify for the FHA program. This is an underwriting issue and not an appraisal issue.

We're hung up between folks who read, understand and try to comply with 4150.2 and Appendix D and folks who believe that, as long as they explain what they've done and check one of the conditional boxes, their arses are covered. Perhaps the law of averages will protect the latter group until they hit the lottery; and perhaps, in an immediate, tangible sense, there may be little risk in doing it some way other than the manual way: but the law of averages is of no comfort to the losers and will be little little comfort to someone caught not complying with the manual, particularly if they're found having multiple flagrant errors. Just read what the HUD letter and pay attention to what the appraiser was required to do.

RSW - you can lead a horse to water, and all that.

 

[residentialguy]

We're hung up between folks who read, understand and try to comply with 4150.2 and Appendix D and folks who believe that, as long as they explain what they've done and check one of the conditional boxes, their arses are covered. Perhaps the law of averages will protect the latter group until they hit the lottery; and perhaps, in an immediate, tangible sense, there may be little risk in doing it some way other than the manual way: but the law of averages is of no comfort to the losers and will be little little comfort to someone caught not complying with the manual, particularly if they're found having multiple flagrant errors. Just read what the HUD letter and pay attention to what the appraiser was required to do.

RSW - you can lead a horse to water, and all that.

Instead of self election to higher ground in hopes that wool is pulled over a few people's eyes (and they believe you just because you said it), you might want to try and actually show support for your position. So far it's been nothing but you talking as if you did.

You can start with post 56 and then move to intent....to which I say that FHA wants the attic inspected, not to try to tell you how to go about it.

 

[Scott R Marshall]

Read this letter from HUD to an appraiser for not inspecting the attic.

Not questioning what the letter said, just wondering if the appraisal was "as-is" or "subject to" that inspection or if the appraiser stated the subject appeared to meet all MPR's or said that they subject appeared to meet all MPR's with the exception of the attic space which could not be observed.

Again, I am expectantly waiting for the next unique scenario which arises where I am not able to inspect the attic and/or crawlspace so I can call FHA/HUD and get an answer (or at least an answer for the day by that particular individual who works for HUD).

 

[Peter LeQuire]

Instead of self election to higher ground in hopes that wool is pulled over a few people's eyes (and they believe you just because you said it), you might want to try and actually show support for your position. So far it's been nothing but you talking as if you did.

You can start with post 56 and then move to intent....to which I say that FHA wants the attic inspected, not to try to tell you how to go about it.

From Appendix D, p. 3:

"These guidelines are provided to assist in the examination of the property. To perform this analysis, the appraiser must have full access to all property improvements.

If unable to visually evaluate the improvements in their entirety, contact the lender and reschedule a time when a complete visual inspection can be performed. This includes access to the crawl space and attic."

It says what it says. How an appraiser reacts to that is entirely up to him.

Wool? It's Spring down here - I've put my wool stuff away. Self-election to higher ground? Shoot, I'm just slogging through the trenches.