If you’re in the real estate biz, you may be aware that the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC), which is the governing body over real estate licenses and standards, just made some changes to the approved Home Inspection Report for Texas Home Inspections. These changes became effective Sept. 1, 2021, and we thought we’d go over what they are and what they mean.
What is the new legislation coming into place on Feb 1, 2022?
The staff who prepare these documents thoughtfully took feedback from all sides: sellers (mortgagee), buyers agents/brokers, inspection companies themselves as well as other stakeholders like real estate inspector organizations or trade publications that cover this industry.
REI-7-6 Report Form
The most notable change is the modification to the Inspection Report Form to reflect the changes adopted by TREC. The new report information will now be provided on the TREC REI 7-6 form as applied to the old REI7-5. The form has been revised to be more straightforward and provide greater clarity to clients regarding what an inspector is there to accomplish. The beginning of the report also better explains what the client should expect from the inspection report. In total, multiple revisions were made including one major change-which was the addition of Gas Distribution Systems.
REI 7-6 Form (Download)
Structural Systems
All garage access doors that are not equipped with a self-closing device must have two spring-loaded hinges as a fire safety measure. This prevents fires from spreading easily to your main home in the event of any blazes breaking out at their location because these types would cause less destruction than ones on floors above where people might be sleeping or living if it wasn’t for these protective measures!
Windows two stories or higher that are less than 24 inches from the floor cannot have a window open more than 4 inches. This will prevent injuries by making it more difficult for people to open and close these types of high-risk windows, preventing falls down onto busy streets below!
Electrical Systems
There are many different appliances in today's world that require power. Some may only need one line, while others will need two or even four lines to operate efficiently with their specific needs! This is why you'll see 240V requirements when dealing primarily with high-demand devices such as clothes washers and dryers; they cannot be run at the lower 120 voltage levels without risking damage.
Additionally, all outlet receptacles must be either a GFCI or AFCI. GFCI is the type of outlet that has an emergency breaker at the outlet, while AFCI detects faulty wiring at the breaker box. They must also be “tamper-resistant,” which is indicated on the packaging, or with a “TR” on the outlet itself.
Lastly, the absence of carbon monoxide detectors will now be called out on all home inspection reports.
HVAC Systems
The Delta T is a measurement of how much air cools or heats as it passes through the HVAC system. This number can be used as an indication to see if there are any problems with your home's temperature requirements and performance levels, which would lead to failure risks for some parts inside!
TREC now requires that the inspector take this measurement and report on how much difference there is between supply air vs returned, or an acceptable industry-accepted method used for determining performance. If he cannot do so because something has adversity his ability (such as low outdoor temperatures, then it's important that he relays that information to the client or their representative.
Plumbing Systems
Inspection reports are now required to call out the type of piping used in water distribution. Examples seen above are PEX, Copper, Galvanized, and PB (aka Quest).
Gas information in regards to appliances will no longer be with the individual appliance but will be located in its own section specifically for gas. This is really only important to folks who are familiar with the old report and will now find this info in a different place.
Why is this change important for buyers and sellers
You can't always tell what's going on inside your home until something goes wrong. That is why it’s important to be aware of the changes. The new rules allow for buyers and sellers alike to gain extensive knowledge about their potential building or plumbing systems before committing themselves fully to an offer-to-purchase agreement.
The new regulations allow for additional access to data clients may not know before they take up occupancy; how much repair work might cost if something does occur (galvanized steel & black iron pipes); plus safety precautions to take when working around these types of components.
In conclusion
The real estate industry is changing, and it’s time to adapt to the times. With changes in technology come better safety measures that can help protect both buyers and sellers. If you want to know how Secured Inspections can help your clients prepare for the major report changes coming soon, contact us today! We are always happy to answer any questions about inspections or provide information on our services.
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