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Question: Should the Buyer be present for the Home Inspection?

Home Inspector with HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC

January 18, 2008 04:47 AM

Answer: A home buyer is not required to be present for the Home Inspection. However, it is recommended that at least one of the buyers attend all or some of the Home Inspection. A great deal can be learned by talking to the Home Inspector about the house you are trying to purchase. A good Home Inspector will offer and take the time to walk around and through the house with you to discuss his findings and answer your questions. This is usually done at the end of the Inspection after the Inspector has the opportunity to get the "big picture". If your Home Inspector does not offer this service, look for another one.

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Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573

MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME

Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

One local inspector that spends four hours at a place when accompanied by buyer helps educate what are possible solutions to this or that problem. Kinda like having Bob Vila by your side and when you see that rotten floor stringer that is not completely gone...he can tell buyer you could take it out...but it has some strength and was damage caused before the new cellar was added and why not just put two more 2/10's on each side of it , sistering them all together..blah blah blah and not disturb it kinda dialogue happens. Does't just find problems and leave you hanging with a sentence or two of what you could do...he tells you the gammit of how to handle it so no one gets deer in the head lights scared away from not enough solution information.

Jan 18, 2008 04:58 AM

John Coker

Virginia Beach, VA

Virginia Beach Home Inspector

Amen brother. A home inspection is a customer service product. Without the customer, how can there be any proper service. I hear others complain about all the questions they get asked or "bothered with". I usually reply, "isn't that our job?"

Jennifer Bowman

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Beach Properties of Florida - Panama City, FL

I make sure my customers go to their home inspections so they can ask any question they want. I have a great relationship with several inspectors, they know up front if its a customer of mine they will be there and they will ask question. And they are fine with it.

Jan 18, 2008 05:03 AM

Pat Preston

Shore Realty - Nags Head, NC

Why? You pay a Home Inspector to do his job; inspect the property, find out the condition of everything, write a report, and submit to the buyer. I wouldn't want to crawl under buildings, over roofs, checking HVAC systems with the inspector anyway.

Jan 18, 2008 05:04 AM

Robert Dirienzo

HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC - Franklin, TN

Home Inspections - Nashville TN

Excellent comments! I may have misled Patton. The buyer does not have to follow the Inspector everywhere around the house or building. In fact, they should not because some locations can be dangerous, like the roof, attic (parts) and crawl space.

I find it best if the Client is at least there for the last hour or so of the Inspection. That is when the Inspector is finishing up and can make the most cohesive comments regarding the structure.

Jan 18, 2008 05:32 AM

Charles Buell

Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA

Seattle Home Inspector

I for one, want my buyer there the whole time. This is their opportunity to learn about the house and to create their own "big picture" of the house. I know a lot of inspectors that don't want to discuss any of the "how to" stuff about what they find---not their job. I find that this is an excellent way to make a "connection" with my buyer as well as share what I have been doing my whole life as a builder and inspector. It dramatically reduces the numbers of calls I get after the inspection about what the report says/means.

Jan 18, 2008 07:37 AM

I agree with everything you say Charles. I think this process is also how Home Inspectors can be part of a team with the realtors to help move the real estate transaction along. If a HI leaves the buyer wondering we can easily cause them to run from the deal.

Jan 18, 2008 11:12 AM

Chrissi Zaccheo Ewing

RealtyOneGroup Engage - Jensen Beach, FL

I think it is up to the buyer, if they want to be there or not. I myself try to be there for the inspections. Sometimes the home inspector can cause them to run but the inspector could also be the person that makes the client feel better about the property.

Jan 19, 2008 02:03 PM

Steve Shatsky

Dallas, TX

Great post Richard! Taking the time to attend the home inspection (the entire inspection) is the best investment of time that a buyer can make. My buyers always thank me after for insisting that they do it and most inspectors are very happy to have the homeowners "shadowing" them so that issues can be pointed out as they are discovered, not just summarized in a report where buyers quickly go into "overload".

Jan 19, 2008 02:20 PM

Anonymous

Jared Cleland

Thanks guys, all these comments were very helpful. I was curious as if I should go to my own inspection today and if so for how long. Thanks to the input here, I will probably go and at least talk to him about any problems he may have found. Thanks!

Feb 13, 2008 12:43 AM

#10

Steve Hord

Cardinal Home Inspection - Panama City, FL

I encourage my clients to be there if asked, but If they are referred by their Realtor then I let their two cents go first. I will inspect the home either way and the report will be identical whether the home buyer is there or not, however the best written report and photos can still be deceiving to a buyer who does not fully understand the issue, so it is definitely better if they are there for the final part of the inspection if possible. When looking at homes they buyer usually only spends 15 -20 minutes looking around, during the home inspection they have a few hours to plan colors, furniture etc., so I find that they are not shadowing me, but are around and available for discussion. Also, minor things can be told verbally to a buyer instead of written which makes things for the buyers easier, and I take time to explain things about the home that the buyer may not know, how to operate the Heat Pump, flush the water heater, roof maintenance etc....

Jan 01, 2009 04:32 AM

Question: Should the Buyer be present for the Home Inspection?

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