At the beginning of my inspections, I have my Clients sign my service agreement so that they know in quite specific detail what I am going to try to do for them, and what I am not going to try to do. It's very important that I not only let them know that, but that I manage their expectations as to what the State of California allows me to do, what my various insurance companies allow me to do, and what I'm physically and mentally capable of doing. One thing that I will not be doing is using my x-ray vision to look into the walls, behind furniture and wall hangings, and in the soil to examine the sewer pipes.

Once I'm fairly certain that they understand what I'm going to do for them over the course of a few hours -- depending on the size of the house and property -- I'll ask them if they have anything specific on their minds or if they just want me to do what I do and then discuss my findings with them.

Sometimes I'll get a copy of the Seller's disclosure. Other times they actually do have something on their minds.

Recently I asked a Client if he had any specific concerns, and he walked me over to a part of the living room while telling me that when he had originally looked at the house several months ago, the flooring in the living room was very spongy, flexing beyond what he thought was normal, which is why he didn't make an offer on it then. Now that he is in escrow on the property, he was wondering what floor repairs were done.

I didn't have the best of news when I came out from under the house, but at least the Seller didn't waste anything. He used every concrete block and brick that he had laying around, even using concrete to hold everything together, and if you look closely, he even has a 2x4 in there.

This is a great example of a lot of effort to do something wrong when less effort could have been spent doing it right to begin with.

*****

This week's posts (they'll open in a new window)

1. WWW (Wordless Wednesday with Words): One-month old flamingo at the San Diego Zoo - 6/10/09
2. WWW (Wordless Wednesday with Words): Bottoms up! - 6/10/09
3. Refrigerator recall - Admiral, Amana, Crosley, Jenn-Air, Magic Chef, Maytag, Performa - 6/9/09
4. The house I want to inspect, but I'm not qualified - 6/8/09

Last week's posts (they'll open in a new window)

1. SST (Speechless Sunday with Text): Cat eyes - 6/7/09
2. Camera seller review - 6/6/09
3. Walter Andersen's Garden Nursery garden railroad - 6/5/09
4. Frenetic Friday pop quiz: Foto Friday - 6/5/09
5. Home inspectors could learn from the National Association of Realtors - 6/4/09
6. WWW (Worldless Wednesday with Words): San Diego Zoo cats have it made - 6/3/09
7. Another great Seller disclosure: "There's a leak by the chimney...." - 6/3/09
8. I love it when Clients follow up with me.... - 6/2/09
9. Manic Monday pop quiz: "There is a small roof leak...." - 6/1/09

Previous week's posts (they'll open in a new window)

1. Russel's Gardening Handbook: Grafting - 5/31/09
2. How to easily and naturally keep ants out of your home - 5/31/09
3. SST (Speechless Sunday with Text): S&S (not for the squeamish) - 5/31/09
4. After yesterday's inspection, I'm quite happy to be alive.... - 5/30/09
5. Frenetic Friday pop quiz: Kitchen sink cabinets and electricity - 5/29/09
6. I love it when the Seller's Realtor calls me.... - 5/29/09
7. Thunderstruck Thursday: Commander of the lake - 5/29/09
8. If you're trying to get your ActiveRain comments in for the day.... - 5/28/09
9. Suicide journey leads to a 15th anniversary - 5/26/09
10. Memorial Day for me.... - 5/25/09