The "DEAL KILLER" HOME INSPECTOR!

Hi Roy - I have had home inspectors make a big deal over small issues that are non-warranted and scared my customers.

i second that. some inspectors can make a few small items to fix sound like alot of work to be done, requiring professional contractors to come in.

i have no problem when there are real material adverse facts that affect a homes value, I mean i want to see my clients get what they want.

i have worked with a few inspectors that are were are are contractors that can give an estimated cost to certain costs, and others that freak out about dirty air filters in furnaces.

One inspector claimed one my listings required a new central AC unit, after he inspected the circuit breaker box and replaced the fuse incorrectly for the A/C which naturally caused the A/C not to run. Luckily my client is an Electrician, and quickly found the problem. He was not to happy to come home on 94 degree day to find his A/C not working. We called before the report was even delivered.

On the same note i had another home that I was working as a buyer agent with a cedar shake roof that was only 3 years old and required at least 20k to fix. The sellers did not want to bend, so my seller's walked. I have no problem with that.

Especially in our side of the business, it's not always what you say, but how you say it.

Inspectors usually scare buyers by not explaining to them that the little things are just not worth dealing with. Inspetions are for finding big problems that would prevent you from buying the house. We don't need a long list of peeling paint here, loose light fixture there, old water heater that may need replaced in a year. To many Inspectors tell buyers I would ask the sellers to fix that, nit picky stuff. I always tell my buyers we are looking for things that would prevent you from buying the house.

My preference is for a very thorough inspector who points out everything, but who also makes it clear what's a safety issue or a potentially substantial problem and what's just what's to be expected in a building of whatever age the house happens to be.  One who informs the buyer, but doesn't panic them.  An inspector who does the latter is making extra work for me in talking the buyer down from the ledge and back to pragmatic reality so they can  make an informed, rational decision.