As a chimney inspector who performs comprehensive Level II Chimney Inspections and as a FIRE Certified Chimney inspector I have the opportunty to work with A LOT of realtors , buyers, sellers, home inspectors and attorneys.
On Friday during the course of a Level II inspection (on a very very large house listed in the low 7 figure range) I had a realtor start telling my client she was paying too much for my inspection.....RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!!
I was at this home all day, inspected 9 flues total including 7 fireplaces, had to climb to heights of 50 feet plus and spend 4 hours writing the report. What would be a fair price for that?
So I kept on with my work while listening to the bashing I was taking from this person who I have never worked with, never met and who could not possible have any type of axe to grind with me. After about 10 minutes I had enough. I turned away from the fireplace and asked the woman if she would prefer I "sub-contract" her for all my inspections. She instantly replied with "I dont know anything about chimneys" in a very snooty tone. With that I looked at my client and said, "The defense rests"
The sad part is I WAS being put on the defensive and the comments were so off base. No one knows what my costs of doing business are and the time of the inspeciton is NOT the time to negotiate pricing.
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