Don't Accompany That Buyer to the Inspection ..... And see how well that works out for you.
which way do I go Burt, which way do I go?
You've thought about it. Maybe even casually suggested it. You have other things you need to be doing and this buyer is a sure thing so you can let them go by themselves this one time, right?

Well, maybe if you want to loose this sale and others in the future.

What does a buyer think when their agent doesn't go with them? If you have a first time home buyer and you don't go with them, the amount of confusion and unknown issues can be overwhelming for them. Having a buyers agent present during the inspection is not only smart business but good customer service.

You have probably been through dozens of home inspections if not more, and that client is relying on your ability to not only discuss the inspectors issues but the validity of the inspector themselves. Depending on the inspector, he or she could be very vocal and totally confuse the client or completely silent and leave the buyer wondering what just happened.

This is a huge investment for someone and the minute agents start thinking this is a daily process and no big deal is the minute they loose the confidence of their buyer. No one in their right mind would buy $200,000 of a certain stock without knowing as much about it as possible. Would you jump into that investment without the help of as many advisers as you feel necessary?

The same is true for home buying. When a buyer is left to fend for themselves in buying a home, they feel more aprehensive, scared and unsure about their purchase. Especially first timers. They need hand holding all the way through. If you get to where you feel you can let a buyer "Do the rest on their own", you will probably start to loose those referrals and recommendations.

Not accompanying your buyer during the inspection for guidance, advice and sheer peace of mind can really harm any future business you may receive. Do yourself and all your clients a favor and be there for them during at least this step of the most important purchase of their life.

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29 Comments on Don't Accompany That Buyer to the Inspection....

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

DEC
29
2010
8 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp

Gary, Attending both is so vital for good customer service I think.  I don't know about the birth and death attendance though. Maybe after they have bought a couple homes from you? LOL
8:14am • #10
8 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp

Interesting point Wallace. Both sides of the fence here. What about the buyer? Do they prefer having you there or not?
8:14am • #11
8 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp

Ed, exactly. It's as if you are not doing the entire job. I think attending the inspection with the buyer is more important than the closing though because the escrow can help explain a lot . but both are important.

 

I am really surprised there are strong opinions both ways...  I would love to hear more ideas.
8:16am • #12
2 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

I attend almost all inspections and have done so without a buyer actually. If they are from out of state I have handled it for them. This requires a lot of trust on the buyers part. This is built throughout the negotiation and search process. I have also gone either way on the closings. I prefer to ask what my buyer wants on this one. I'm suggesting this because I am curious to know what others think?
8:19am • #13
8 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp

Thanks for the suggestion and re-blog Don! There does seem to be two sides on this topic. Is it really beneficial to claim "I knew nothing" About an issue?
8:23am • #14
1,022,355 Points 66 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

This is a CYA issue which is why it is being mandated by brokerage firms on instructions by their insurance carrier. 

5 years ago, not going was unheard of.  Now, it is no longer the norm in many areas.
8:39am • #15
563,037 Points 17 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

I attend all of my home inspections for several reasons: I don't want the buyer to feel alone in the process; I don't want the home inspector to have all the responsibility of managing the buyer's expectations; I feel it is my responsibility to be there. I have heard of other agents/offices who deter their agents from attending due to disclosure, which I don't agree with.
8:51am • #16
428,199 Points 23 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I would never think of not attending the home inspection.  There are just so many variables & if there are questions or issues that arise, it is difficult to accurately assess them if I'm not there for the process.  And, I like to see how thorough the home inspector is - if it is one I've recommended or if it is one that the buyer found on his/her own - so I have that information for future clients.  That said, it is the inspector's job to do the inspection & I stay out of his way and try to let the buyers let him do his job.

As for the closing, I cannot imagine not attending but that process differs from state to state.  Here in MA, all parties attend the closing.
9:07am • #17
8 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp

So Wallace, this is a Cover Your Assets case where the buyer is solely responsible for ensuring their own decisions on the home buying process? Seems to me that it's leaving the buyer in the dark about what to do next.
10:07am • #18
8 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp

Carol, yes, not allowing the home inspector to start laying out details that you may not want your buyer knowing all about.... not hiding anything mind you, but explaning things in such a way that the buyer has no sounding board to bounce the ideas off of.. good move.
10:09am • #19
8 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp

Christine, staying out of the way but keenly paying attention is excellent advice. I love that you take notes on the buyers inspector should they be one for the reference books.

Thats a lot of people at closing... does it get confusing and last twice as long?

Thanks for your comments folks!
10:10am • #20
1 Featured Post Outside Blog

I agree with David and I have no idea why a Broker would ever advise against it. Maybe that Broker needs a smarter Attorney! That is our job and it is good customer service. I do know several agents in the Atlanta metro market that do not attend inspections with their buyer because they are much too busy!!!!  Those buyers need to find a different agent!
10:12am • #21
8 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp

Jason, 

Why do some Realtors not go to closings or even to inspections?

Are Realtors that busy?

I always thought that going to a closing or being at an inspection was so important to help with the sale and to answer any questions.

Thank you for sharing.

David Snell
10:39am • #22
384,702 Points 8 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

The excuses about liability exposure are all valid about buyer representation too.  Of course there is exposure, and that's part of our job, isn't it?
10:44am • #23
8 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp

E.J.,

You guys have a lot of liability don't you?

Is it easy to lose your license if Realtors do some thing bad or wrong with a deal?

Thanks,

David Snell

 
11:34am • #24
384,702 Points 8 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

It's very easy to lose your license and/or lose a pile of money.  If you don't get caught, all you lose is your reputation with peers and your ability to sleep well.  I feel that there are just too many excuses for not doing ones job blamed on liability exposure.
12:04pm • #25
8 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp

E.J,

I just got off the phone with an attorney whose wife is a Realtor and he told me that his wife is not renewing her license.

I asked him how much it would cost to renew the license and he told me like two thousand dollars per year.

I was like what?   Is this price the norm for every state?

David Snell

www.snellexperts.com

www.executiverestoration.com

888-493-0098

704-545-0098
12:27pm • #26
369,545 Points 70 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

I know that if you don't make money in real estate you loose money! It all depends on who you are with. There are general license fees, continuing education fees, Realtors fees, then any brokerage or desk fees. That can add up to be a lot! Hence one of the reasons I am no longer an agent.
12:35pm • #27
428,199 Points 23 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

David....it can get crowded at the closing table but if the parties are all experienced, it can go smoothly!  You have the closing attorney (in MA, all closings are conducted by an attorney; I used to be a closing attorney), the Seller, the Seller's attorney if they have one, the Buyer, the Buyer's attorney if they have one, the Seller's agent & the Buyer's agent. Whew!  The closing attorney is in charge & a good one will keep things on track. 
9:26pm • #28
8 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp

Tammy, I just had no idea that you guys had to pay so much until today after talking to our company attorney.  Wow.

Why does it cost so much?  Who gets all the money and for what and what does all the money go for?

Tammy, if you lived in Charlotte and you were still an agent I would let you be my agent.

Christine,

Thank you for your comment. I would like to point out that if my agent/Realtor did not show up to inspections and the closing that he or she would certainly lose the sell with me because I would feel like he or she did not care to give me the attention to the house that I was interested in buying.  I hope that does not sound selfish of me. (smiling)

Carol, 

You sound very committed.  Keep up doing what you are doing by being at all the inspections and showing your client that you care.  (smiling)

Thank you all for sharing and thank you all for caring to spend the time to write about the way you feel and what you believe in.  

David Snell

www.snellexperts.com

www.executiverestoration.com

Got Mold? Got a water damage concern? Got a roof problem? Need a job?  Mold inspections and mold clean up at its finest!
9:46pm • #29

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