Realtors are NOT home inspectors, regardless of how many reports they've read and properties they've sold

Insurance companies regularly report that water is the number one cause of property damage and insurance claims. Isn't it ironic that all life needs water and yet it can be so destructive?

Part of what we home inspectors do is look for clues about what might have happened in the past, what might be happening now, and what could happen in the future. That pretty well covers everything!

Along with the obvious roof leaks and plumbing leaks, there are some not-so-obvious places that we look. One of those is the condition of the tiles, caulking, and grouting in the bathtubs and showers. You might not think that a cracked tile, cracks in the grouting, or little pieces of caulking missing is much to worry about, but I can assure you it is.

The following picture shows a bathtub/shower wall that fell apart the first time my Client used it after moving in.  

I had reported that the tiles and grouting were cracked. My Client ignored the cracks and moved in. This was the result.

He called me wanting help, and when I asked him why he ignored the recommendations in my report, he told me that the Realtor said that I was too nitpicky, that tiles and grouting in every condo in the building was cracked, so if he wanted a condo in this building, he'd have to accept the cracks.

This resulted in $15,000 worth of damage to this bathroom and floor and the ceiling and walls in the bathroom in the condo below this one, as well as a lawsuit against the Realtor. I'm sure if I had not gone to help when my Client called, I would have been involved in this lawsuit. Fortunately, I was not.

Please, Realtors, I know that there are some home inspectors with bad bedside manners, but if you have a question about why your home inspector put something in the report, call him. There really is a reason why we say things, and it's usually based on past insurance claims or past industry lawsuits. It's far better to address the issue now, while the home belongs to the Sellers, than it is to address Judge and Jury somewhere down the road. And for me here, all I could say was, "Not responsible for advice not taken or overridden by a Realtor."

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