RE: Inspect the inspectors
Dear editor:
Ms. Jones,
First, the inspectors are there to make sure your residence is completed with respect to Arkansas and city code so that all requirements are met so that you have a job that is completed properly and that you will not have regrets or destruction with your property. So be thankful that we have these city officials to take care of all property owners to ensure that our contractors are doing a good job since we don’t all have “expertise” in those areas.
People tend to complain when they are delayed or when extra work is needed to complete the project to meet those standards. All inspectors in the city use tablets or laptops and they file the reports after the visits and follow-up calls with the professionals used by the homeowners like yourself. I am certain he made his areas of concern regarding your home’s electrical needs known your electrician before he/ she began the work.
Many of the subcontractors are from out of town, work rarely in the city, or simply either “cut corners” or don’t understand all of the codes and guidelines due to lack of experience. I would suggest that you make sure that your subcontractor is a high-quality professional that corresponds with the inspectors and you do your homework on them before hiring them.
Lastly, the editorial section is not the place to “call out” a person for a job that you might feel “isn’t doing a good job.” You should have contacted the city of Hot Springs offices to speak with the inspector and/or his supervisor to get clarity on your issues. So in the future, if you are looking to make sure that a city employee is held accountable, go through the proper channels. I bet that if your home caught fire because the inspector failed to perform his/her job and the electrician didn’t follow code, you would be more concerned that you are currently. Our city officials that go out to make sure we are safe don’t get paid a “huge salary” but they get feedback from people like yourself when you have to pay a few extra dollars and time for your safety.
Robert Gray Hot Springs