Do you need a Prenuptial Agreement with your Inspector?
While Home Inspectors are often accused of being in bed with their agents, I for one, hope that is never really the case. Likewise, being in bed with one’s buyer should also be avoided.
The Pre-Inspection Agreement is a little bit like a prenup in that it usually spells out what will happen in the event that the relationship should “fall apart.”
No inspector likes to have that happen.
I like to think that no buyer likes to have that happen either.
In the event that the inspector totally screws up and figuratively commits adultery by going into a house and coming out less than fully clothed with information---but nonetheless well paid---the buyer may just choose to toss the pre-nuptial agreement out the window and start aiming below the belt.
Just like any real marriage.
How well that prenuptial agreement holds up will depend on who has the best lawyers and just how egregious the screw-up was. This can be expensive for everyone and the lawyers are the only winners.
Hell hath no fury like a buyer scorned.
So while we certainly should not be sleeping with our buyers, doing what we can to take care of them is likely a good idea on a lot of levels. The prenuptial agreement should be there to benefit both parties and not be designed to protect one from the other, but instead, provide a path to follow in the event that one or both of the parties fool around.
Let’s not “fool around,” let’s take care of our relationships.
Charles Buell, Real Estate Inspections in Seattle
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