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Directors: J Lamprecht, C Jardine

Registration number: 2009/012862/08

WDO Inspections, Reporting and Clearance Certificates:

SAPCA – Minimum Standards Guideline

Dear members:

Please give this your urgent attention with the following as a guideline commensurate with the representation of SAPCA Membership and the reporting required when reporting on WDO and issuing Clearances.

I recognise that we are an Association of voluntary members, and it is precisely this voluntary commitment that intends the foundation of professionalism and an intent to make what we represent to the public, that of trust and competence and reliable standing.

Let me commend and thank those members and companies that strive daily to hold proud their own standing and that of the industry.. Thank you.

Formal complaints from the Transferring Attorneys and both Buyers and Sellers are increasingly concerning to the extent where advice as to our conduct as an Association is being suggested in the complaints. Clearly this places our Association reputation at risk and threatens the standing of our members and companies that make it their doctrine to uphold and uplift our industry and by way of conduct and our SAPCA Association membership.

It is apparent that the “de-facto” defence, is the; Latent Infestation, or Inaccessible Areas; clauses in some form or another, and with no supporting documentation or comment or opinion or observation….. (“Zero”).

The documentation sent to the Transferring Attorneys host only the date, a signature, some reference to Government Authorised status and the pre-supposition that a comprehensive inspection was done in support of the declaration….. “and”.. lest we forget.. The SAPCA LOGO as an endorsement.

2nd opinions are being called for with predictable results, and from an Association standpoint, we cannot defend or clarify or moderate information that doesn’t exist. This leaves the member or company exposed to whatever actions the Client see’s fit. (The information submitted in the certificate is non-existent and there is no supporting document to say what exactly was inspected and what the status was of each item inspected).

(Defence comments such as “lost Straggler”, or “Lone Ranger “ or “last survivor” and a quick spray with whatever comes to hand are neither professional, appropriate nor competent, and shouldn’t be in the customers complaint documentation).

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Directors: J Lamprecht, C Jardine

Registration number: 2009/012862/08

It is a given that coastal areas, albeit not exclusively, have their own fair share of insects and organisms, and almost without fail there will be surrounding evidence of the possibility of either Beetle or Termite activity, as well as various forms of Rot, or a history thereof.

“I cannot emphasize enough”, the call for proper and accurate reporting, opinion and observation based on competency as a WDO Inspector as a specialist skill and qualification, and endorsed by SAPCA.

Please use the following as a minimum guideline for: Reporting, Comment, Observation, Opinion and Stance and in support of what SAPCA represents to the public and our customer base and the Industry.

Guideline: (Content and Declaration)

A comprehensive report supporting the clearance needs to contain the following as a guideline:

A synopsis of the surrounds or neighbourhood or erven Externals..

The age and general condition of the inspected premises.

The outside considerations in terms of drainage, relief, vegetation and pertinently paintwork, brickwork and guttering conducive to possible Rot or the support of moisture which Beetle or Termites may be dependent on.

o If recently painted it may suggest cover-up of damp….. (Albeit not your call, the report should say recently painted in the context of possible damp or Rot)

Wooden or timber structures, gateposts, awnings, decking Wendy-houses, carports etc… (Observations).

Barge-boards, Fascia, Eaves.

Trees or vegetation that may act as transfer vectors for Beetle like Hylo or Cerambicidae or Lyctus etc…

A synopsis of the Internals of the premises.

Observations as to the state of paintwork, damp, blistering, discoloration of timbers, warpage and similar easily visible signs or anomalies.

Floor construction and make-up (Parquet, Planks, Blocks, Laminate, Concrete, Tiles… etc..

Ceiling construction: Open, Rafters, Bison-board, Cornices, etc. and condition or observations.

Each room, Kitchen Floor and Cupboards, and general joinery within the residence.

Window frames and general condition (in the context or Rot or Termite or Beetle damage).

Roof construction: Thatch, tiles, Slate, Cement, Corrugated Iron, and general condition.

Roof cavity timbers: Type of timbers (SA-Pine – Treated (SABS) or untreated), Deal, Oregon Pine, Blue-gum-poles, Poplar beams, laminated beams..etc..

Inspection status of timbers: What you could get to and see, and what could not be seen or was covered or boxed or inaccessible.

Very Importantly: o Your Competent and Expert opinion on the possibility of latent infestation or emergence or

structural compromise: It’s your opinion and stated as such… It cannot be held against you and is submitted in

good faith for the information of the customer (either buyer or seller).

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Directors: J Lamprecht, C Jardine

Registration number: 2009/012862/08

o Even if the site is absolutely “clean”, the documentation should state what was inspected and what was observed, and what testing protocol or method or action was used to establish the conclusion and declaration.

“It’s our Industry and our Association, and demands pride in its participation.”

Yours in SAPCA

Colin Jardine – CEO