WebThe men and women of the Office of State Inspector General are proud to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. Danielle Brian is the executive director of the Project On Government Oversight, a nonprofit watchdog that investigates and exposes waste, corruption and abuse of power. Additionally, the Office of Investigations monitors the investigative activity of DHS various internal affairs offices. Dr. Joseph V. Cuffari was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the DHS Inspector General on July 25, 2019. This is a common option for buyers who want to do the repairs on their own terms, or if sellers are refusing repairs. When she isn't writing for HomeLight, she's working at her local real estate office. Q: What professional standards apply to OIG investigations? In some cases, your real estate agent will hire the inspector and set up the appointment. Based on the results, you can price your home accordingly, and you wont be surprised by the results of your buyers inspection. Realty Times: Everything is Negotiable in Real Estate, 9 drought-tolerant plants for any outdoor space. However, it wouldnt be in your best interest. As noted above, an employee's management can become involved if the employee declines to participate in a recorded interview. Q: Can employees conduct their own audio/video recording of OIG interviews? It is possible for Biden, and any president for that matter, to remove rogue inspectors general when theyre egregiously ineffective while still protecting the independence of the inspector general community as a whole. These episodes have convinced me that the Executive Branch, regardless of what party is in charge, just doesnt get it. Return to Zillow.com. Alternatively, when IGs come under fire for doing good work, Ive had their backs. The Inspector General Act serves as an arsenal for accountability within the executive branch. They could be calling you for anyone of several reasons. Regardless of the inspection results, home inspectors should not be advising buyers as to whether they should move forward with the purchase. You need a quick wit to look on smiling faces and discern truths from half-truths and bald faced lies. IGs hire their own people (including financial auditors and even armed criminal investigators), issue their own subpoenas for documents, and have Real questions about criminal defense from people like you. All final DHS OIG audit and inspection reports are available on our website. You may very well not be at risk in the matter but you are much better off have legal counsel find that out for you. While a bad home inspection report isnt what any seller is hoping for, the good news about the process is that as a result of the inspection, the buyer knows what theyre getting into and has the chance to ask for repairs or walk away both actions that protect the seller from future liability. These IGs are helping Congress watch over the peoples business and ensure the fidelity of agency actions. The vote in the House of Representatives, where I was then serving Iowas 3rd district, was 388-6. This requires that Presidents tell Congress and the people their reasons for removal. pushed the Health and Human Services IG to resign. His input has been insightful in crafting this bipartisan legislation and his staff has been diligent in furthering these efforts. The lawyer you select can make a dramatic impact in the way this matter is resolved. Before you go too far down the path of arranging for seller repairs after the home inspection, its important to separate reasonable buyer requests from unreasonable ones. Some reviews of DHS Components and programs are required by law. If a home has a radon level higher than 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L), the home needs a radon mitigation system to bring the radon to safe levels. Thats a whole house inspection, explains Beth Pretty, one of the top real estate agents in Midlothian, Virginia. It really is best that you avail yourself of your right to remain silent and let counsel deal with this for you. The IG Reform Act codifies those principles by requiring the President to submit to Congress a notice of intent to remove an IG 30 days in advance, and to explain why. As part of our mission, we conduct investigations that involve employees, management officials, and affected Departmental programs and operations. Section 7 of the Inspector General Act states that [t]he Inspector General shall not, after receipt of a complaint or information from an employee, disclose the identity of the employee without the consent of the employee, unless the Inspector General determines such disclosure is unavoidable during the course of the investigation. During the course of some investigations, it may be unavoidable that the identities of individuals involved will become known. In a buyers market, buyers sometimes have more time, but in a sellers market, they usually have to act quickly. If there is evidence of criminal wrongdoing, the investigators work with federal or state prosecutors as appropriate. An official website of the United States government. But, because Wertheimer refused to turn over documents to the Integrity Committee, it was unable to substantiate other allegations against her including that she curtailed audits under pressure from agency leadership. However, sellers who may be concerned about what might be found in an inspection sometimes opt to pay for their own pre-inspection. : The most common electrical issues include wiring thats not up to code, frayed wiring, or improperly wired electrical panels. The success of many a home sale has hinged on the home successfully passing an inspection. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. According to the Inspector General Act, Inspectors General are appointed without regard to political affiliation and solely on the basis of integrity and demonstrated ability in accounting, auditing, financial analysis, law, management analysis, public administration, or investigations. What Does a Pending Status on a House Mean? You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. Inspectors general provide independent, nonpartisan oversight of federal programs and spending, uncovering abuse of power and wasteful spending within federal agencies. Good luck. Each year, we create an Annual Performance Plan outlining our planned audits, inspections, and evaluations for the year. You want them to be licensed because most will provide a warranty, she notes. That couldn't be it. In the public domain for all to see. A home inspection contingency is an addendum to the offer contract that allows the buyer to conduct an inspection and then back out of the deal if they are unsatisfied with the findings. : This is a serious issue, and something you should be especially cautious of if youre selling an older home. For example, they could make comments about how the walls look dingy or the knobs on the cabinets are dated. Do not send any confidential information to us until and unless a formal attorney-client relationship has been established. It is critical to exercise this right at the earliest opportunity. A home inspection contingency is an addendum to the offer contract that allows the buyer to conduct an inspection and then back out of the deal if they are unsatisfied with the findings. Its about the separation of powers, checks and balances, and the public trust. Buyers choose their own home inspector, and occasionally a seller will feel like the report is incorrect or exaggerated. The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the view of The Hill, by Danielle Brian, opinion contributor - 06/29/21 12:30 PM ET, by Glenn C. 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I always encourage the buyer at the beginning of the inspection to share anything that they have questions about, Pretty says. I got a message on my phone from one asking me to call them back. The best thing to do is let them tell you why they are calling you and " we just want to ask you a few questions is NOT an acceptable answer" Then after they tell you what they want to talk about it would be best to retain counsel to communicate with them and do all of the talking for you. and plan your strategy. The National Research Council published a report that supports the EPAs (Environmental Protection Agency) claims that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, claiming 15,000 lives each year. In this way, these watchdogs serve an indispensable function in our system of checks and balances. OIG also investigates alleged reprisals against whistleblowers within the Department, as well as its contractors and certain grant recipients. Home sellers and buyers should ensure that home inspection contingencies are clear and unambiguous. *Processes vary slightly among DHS OIG Program Offices. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Former federal employee wins wrongful termination lawsuit against Army, Federal vaccine mandate for government employees, Top reasons for federal suitability actions, Ins and outs of suitability determinations. For the IG system to work, it is essential to balance independence with accountability of IGs. For more information on whistleblower retaliation go to Whistleblower Retaliation FAQ File a Whistleblower Complaint FOIA Secure .gov websites use HTTPS After a three-year investigation, the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiencys Integrity Committee issued areport on Wertheimer and other leaders within the FHFAs inspector general office, prompting two senators to call for Wertheimers removal. Yet, more than two months later, President Joe Biden has yet to remove agency Inspector General Laura Wertheimer, despite the watchdogs recommendation to discipline or remove her. Steve Linick, State Department Inspector General, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington on Dec. 10, 2014, before a House Select Committee on Benghazi hearing. Obamas White House informed Congress merely that he had lost confidence in Mr. Walpin. Post your question and get advice from multiple lawyers. Call FEMA's toll-free fraud hotline at 866-720-5721 or local law enforcement officials if you They have to be fierce watchdogs, not lapdogs. Cooperation includes being fully candid and forthcoming when interviewed and providing any requested records in the employee's possession or to which he/she has access. Evaluations take a broader, multi-disciplinary approach to reviewing and assessing DHS programs, results, resource management and policies. With Danny Kaye, Walter Slezak, Barbara Bates, Elsa Lanchester. This began a bout of negotiations that resulted in the hold of presidential nominees and eventually a bicameral congressional investigation into the matter. DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) is an independent and objective audit, inspection, and investigative body. In contrast, an OIG audit or evaluation is conducted to examine organizational program performance or financial management matters, typically of a systemic nature. Remember, if a buyer backs out and you re-list, youre going to have to, You could also add a mention of the repairs to your, Major electrical issues that are safety or code issues, Plumbing, drainage, sewer, septic, or water issues (or well water issues, if applicable), Elevated radon levels (a common issue in homes with basements), Anything under $100 that the buyer can reasonably fix on their own (especially in a sellers market, where buyers shouldnt want to come off as overly picky), Cosmetic issues, like paint touch-ups or older tiles, Renovations youre not responsible for turning the home into your buyers dream home, Loose fixtures that can easily be fixed with a few tools, Basement floor cracks that have no structural impact. Specifically, inspectors general have resources and authorities designed to keep federal agencies honest and on their toes, including criminal investigators, auditors and forensics capabilities. WebA certified home inspector conducts a visual inspection of a home's structure as well as its critical components, such as plumbing, electrical and heating and air conditioning systems. You should consult an attorney immediately. As a seller, its important to prepare yourself for the home inspection process, and to know how to negotiate after a home inspection if it comes back with some not-so-great news. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. We need to be clearer and we need to better safeguard the independence of these IGs. Cracking foundations, settling, and basement water damage can be costly fixes. Theres another reason why the buyers agent should be present: the agent can use the findings during negotiations. Keep the Secretary of DHS and Congress fully and currently informed about problems and deficiencies in DHS programs and operations and the necessity for and progress of corrective action. The Responsibilities of Buyers in Rent-to-Buy Houses. While the Supreme Court has struck down for-cause protections for agency leaders, including the FHFA administrator, these rulings would not apply to inspectors general since they dont possess executive authority the key deciding factor for the court. I will assume the real underlying question is what you should do about the call. We cant have individuals with political day jobs simultaneously in charge of confidential, independent IG matters, including sensitive audits, investigative work, and whistleblower information. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. If the asking price is lowered by even $5,000, thats only about $25 less per month toward the mortgage. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is a federal agency that investigates fraud, waste and other alleged misconduct, including job nonperformance, by government employees. Get a notebook and write down your questions as The inspector will test every window, check every outlet, test the appliances, walk the roof, go in the attic, go in the crawl space. Others are requested by important stakeholders such as Congress or the DHS Secretary. Twitter launches Violent Speech Policy with zero tolerance for severe House Republicans advance TikTok ban along party lines, China, Belarus call for cease-fire, negotiations in Ukraine, Hemorrhaging losses, the Feds problems are now the taxpayers, Watch live: White House monkeypox response team holds briefing, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. And the administration should lean on that process going forward. The information on this site is not legal advice upon which you should rely or act; nor is it intended to be legal advice. A: Generally, when an investigation is complete, OIG will produce a report based upon relevant witness interviews, records, and other evidence. 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