RE: My Love/Hate Relationship with Home Inspectors

Have to laugh at #10 - It is so true "There are always a couple of "deal killer" home inspectors in any area.  Most of the Home Inspectors I've worked with have been wonderful, but there is one that makes every listing agent in my area cringe in fear when they hear this inspectors name.  I've never had the pleasure ("knock on wood") of working with this Inspector - I've heard real horror stories about this one inspector that always manages to find "incurable" defects every time - like finding an "underground spring" below a house in Silver Spring.  Sometimes it's just the way an inspector "tells" the buyers about an issue that instills fear and panic in them and this certain inspector has a Master's Degree in Horriblizing Everything. 

I couldn't agree with you more Michael.  Home inspectors are to inspect the home and report the facts.  Well done!

The professionals in the triangle of list, market, sell (repeat). The more layers, cooks in the kitchen, the more eyeballs rolling, scanning, clearing their throat. Ahem. More T's to cross, I's to dot. Our home inspectors in the small rural markets is dad is a full time carpenter. Or Uncle Bob is and comes along for the second showing. Kick the tires. The brother in law is an electrician, the buyer works fors for a plumber, etc.

The home inspector with the big book that is like seventh grade shop class of what's a sill plate, rafter, pitless adapter, etc you pay $700 for a half hour visit and one page check off "home inspection". We don't see those happening, flying in small hard earned money real estate rural markets. On the purchase of $30K, $40 houses. Keep it simple.

Very well said, keep to the facts and avoid predicting what will happen in 1 year or 5 years or 10 years down the road. I think it is just important how the report is presented to the buyer. Informative but not alarming.

I've seen is swing both ways.  Some home inspectors just don't know how to present the facts and end up overdramatizing things to the point where no buyer would want to buy an older home.  On the other hand, I have seen some inspectors so sloppy that they miss obvious problems like a missing water heater. 

Michael, I vaguely recall the Just the facts maam line...did that come from there LOL?

Sticking to the facts...not quoting repairs .....offering unsolicited advice outside their area of expertise....love/hate...yes....

I couldn't remember which TV show used that line, "just the facts, ma'am." That's good advice in many situations.

We just had an inspection on a property where an inspector made a comment about electrical code that they did not have knowedge about.  We had to get a letter from a licensed electrician to dispute it an get the loan funded.  Inspectors:  If you don't know what the code is, please keep the specualtion to yourself. 

As with any profession, we all have screwballs. I once found a home study guide and one of my clients houses to become a home inspector and/or appraiser. As I read through the manuscript I could see many problems with a get rich quick foundation.

I also find that the boiler print in most reports, are written for lawyers not the consumer..

Hi Michael, it clarifies it more  when stated "home inspectors are generalist not specialist"; that is a courteous & informative way of relaying to our clients.

Well said, Michael, and agreed. Stick to the facts! There are plenty of other opinions already flying around.
Thanks for sharing,
Bruce

I guess I qualify as "old enough" to remember that line. Why would a home inspector want to take on the added risk or liability of expressing their opinion beyond the scope of their expertise? I know I wouldn't.

 I have seen some reports that the minor defects look scary in the photos.  My favorite home inspector doesn't take photos, yet, anyway.

Michael,

You'd make a great attorney for the cause! You are capable of making a winning argument without hostility. I can appreciate how you state the facts and bring forth the issues that impact others in the Real Estate Industry. Your viewpoints are very valuable to me and you have a clear, unobstructed view of the playing field. I find you to be be credible, not only because I like what you write and because you bring value to me as a Realtor, but also because I met you in person and I know you are genuine. Plus you don't use a smoking gun to get your point across. You have my deepest respect.

Michael...

I think that the problem stems from a lot of the stuff that we read written by inspectors. As we have discussed before, many go beyond the issues and attempt to apply forensic Psychology to the parties in an attempt to make themselves appear more knowledgeable than they are.

We were working the day shift out of LA. The boss was Captain Andrews, my partner Bill Gannon, my name's Friday. We were on general patrol when a call came in from a local Realtor. A possible 459 Home Inspection was about to go down. That's when we go to work. When we arrived on the scene we were greeted by a hysterical and irate home buyer and their agent. The buyer were tellign me how the inspector predicted the house would collapse around us and not last 5 years based on his inspection and all of his predictions. I finally calmed them down to the point wher I could get " Just the facts Mam".

Michael any time anyone, a Home Inspector or not, come across as a "Know It All" they are going to rub people the wrong way even if they do know it all.

I never ask a home inspector to put a price on anything they find wrong. If it's a concern, we get a specialist in.

Michael, We have many good home inspectors in Clarksville but there are a couple that are big showoffs. One in particular likes to reference building codes and when it is verified with the codes department they contradict what he says. Meantime he gets the buyers all upset with the integrity of the house and it makes for a bad situation. I think he really would like to be a builder like his father was but never could (poor life choices). He tends to have earned himself a reputation with all the agents because agents make comments. Buyers use him because he is so readily available because he is not one that the agents use regularly. If he would just state the facts we could learn to live with him.