Yesterday I watched comments roll in about NOT attending home inspections.
Well, I am still watching them roll in today. I am atypical, I don't attend them. Other agents coast to coast do attend them. And they think I'm nuts. I think when the, "Everything's bigger in Texas," rule was passed by our legislature and McMansions became common, even in economically constructed developments 3,000 feet and a pool go for $100k in some areas here... and inspectors began to take from sun up to sun down to complete their inspection, maybe we (me and my buyers) started to wonder who needed the time to focus (inspector) vs. who needed the time to watch and learn (buyer and agent).
And then there is the fact that in Texas the inspectors are licensed, too. They come. They go. And they report in writing. And the best person to explain their findings is them. A written and photographed report from the inspector is the tool I use to present issues to pros and repair or replacement requests to sellers. That report is GOLD! But I don't believe my presence is as valuable as other people believe their presence is. Very. Clearly.
Here is a list of things one could argue we should be able to attend or we might cause problems if we do, so don't, that remind me of how important people think the home inspection attendance is or is not:
1. My son had open heart surgery. Not in the room with him as the drills began. But the results sure mattered. I trusted the pro in the know. With all my little heart.
2. (Along the same lines) I donated my kidney to my dad this time last year. In the room. Not awake. Would it be scary like buyers are scared when they see the gut check of their home? Yip. But the results are what matters.
3. My children are in school learning today. I am not there. But the results sure matter. I trust the pro in the know. I don't need to be there for those little brains to grow. I will see their report. And I will see their smiles! I can't be there for every little thing, I am not a teacher specific to teaching that material. Although that would be very nice!
4. Today I will take my car in for an alignment and oil change. I trust him. It's a pretty important set of wheels to me. But I don't need to take binoculars. If I have questions after, I have questions after. No biggie.
5. Surveyor, Appraiser, Loan UW. I learn a lot from them. And I would learn a lot watching them, agreed. But I don't go, watch, supervise, ask questions, distract them, or anything remotely like it while onsite in someone else's home whose brownies are baking. It would make me hungry!
So the buyer bought, the inspector is inspecting, what am I doing? I don't know. But when Mark or Phil are done locking up, he's calling me with the review. Typical call summarizes items in need of repair that are estimated to be most costly or toward the end of their lifecycle or not in working order. And when his report comes back, I am reading it. I pay attention to the pictures. Calling the listing agent to say, "The GFCI tripped, but didn't reset in the master bathroom... before I ask your seller to ask an electrician to fix it in the form of an amendment and legally binding contract, will you call the seller and ask them, maybe their GFCI is located somewhere else that he couldn't find? Like mine is at my home? And the upstairs bath where all Susie Qs toys are, it didn't drain today. You wanna see if there's a missing GI Joe in there before I call a plumber or as you to do that?" And by the time I have gotten all the calls made, the seller has sent me a pic back of where the reset button is and a video of her hairdryer blowing and the very hairy GI Joe... I will never feel the need to be there for any of that. But I understand others do. 100% get that.
Today the appointment is a listing appointment. Thank goodness!
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