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Tuesday
February 9, 2010
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More inspections for new rural homes
Published September 6, 2008
New regulations went into effect Monday that may change homebuilding in rural Kerr County.
State legislation passed last year toughens inspection requirements for construction in unincorporated areas. Building a new home or remodeling an existing home by at least $10,000 outside of city limits now are subject to undergo three inspections:
• A foundation inspection before concrete is poured
• A framing and mechanical systems assessment before wallboard is installed
• A final inspection upon completion of the project
The builder or remodeler is responsible for contracting with the fee inspector who must either be a licensed engineer, a registered architect, a professional inspector licensed by the Texas Real Estate Commission or a third-party inspector approved by the Texas Residential Construction Commission.
“Unlike within cities where city staff performs these inspections following issuance of building permits, builders in the unincorporated areas of the state of Texas will have to make arrangements themselves with authorized inspectors to obtain these inspections at their cost,” said Heinz Roesch executive director of the Hill Country Builders Association.
He said the cost of these inspections will vary based on the size and location of the structure, and each inspector will set his or her own fees.
“I expect fees to be between $500 to $1,000 for all three inspections,” Roesch said. “These fees will be passed on to the customer.”
But the new legislation may make little difference for area homebuilders. According to Roesch, these inspections are nothing new and many builders already have been doing them on a voluntary basis.
“Many builders already have their projects inspected in order to give their customers the assurance of a neutral check,” he said. “Banks and warranty companies often also require these neutral inspections. The difference now is that it has become mandatory (to do the inspections).”
According to information from the Texas Association of builders, inspection records and documents will not be turned over to the TRCC by the inspector or builder. The TRCC will conduct random audits, however, of the inspection records. Builders must maintain those records for at least five years.
The construction or remodeling must adhere to the 2000 International Residential Code and the 1999 National Electrical Code.
The new inspection requirements are the result of House Bill 1038 that was passed by the legislature in 2007. TRCC formulated the rules and currently is signing up qualified inspectors.
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