In the past week I have seen two deals fall through because of clients who got all excited over minor maintenance items. I for one had explained to them in great detail that these were just maintenance issues and not to loose sleep over it. Well after what I guess was a sleepless night they got all excited about the small issues even though the sellers were willing to fix the items in immediate need of repair. By the end everyone was angry at each other and the deals fell through. This is why I feel it is so important for the Inspector and the Realtor to have a team approach to the process. It is just as important for you as Agents to understand the condition of the home as it is for your clients. You after all have to play the role as mediator as well. It's a shame to see two decent homes go without a sale. It's a crazy roller coaster of emotions we deal with and sometimes we all need to just work together.
WOW - that's rough!
Every buyer has a different personality/approach. I'm a fan of classes that teach you how to read someone, and then help them in the way they best understand.
SK
I totally agree with Mark. A good part of the job, for a home inspector, is using applied psychology. Working for the client, and having a fiduciary responsibility to them, demands that we call out all the issues with the house, but it also demands that we put these issues in perspective.
There is a vast difference between failed roof flashing (leaking water into the house) and cracking caulk at the flashing (easily fixed and a regular maintenance item). I have found that many sellers have put off the regular maintenance items. They are killing their own sales.
Common maintenance items include:
- Annually, check the caulking around exterior windows and doors. Also check, of have checked, the caulking of the chimney flashing to the roof.
- Have the furnace checked, cleaned and adjusted at least once a year.
- Change your furnace filter every 30 days. Do not use the 'HEPA' or allergy filters of '90 day' filters. They do not work as advertised and can overly restrict the air flor in the furnace. If you have allergys, get an electrostatic air filter system. Otherwise, the cheap blue fiberglass filters work just fine. The reason for a filter in the furnace is not to improve the air quality, it is to protect the furnace's heat exchanger.
- Hardood floors should only be cleaned with white vinager and water, not Oild soap or the 'spritzer' type cleaners.
- Seal the tile grout in your shower, and on grouted tile floors, with silicone grout sealer. It will help guard against water infiltration into the shower enclosure walls and will help to keep dirt out of the grouted tile floors.
- Do not set your furnace's humidifier too high. As shown on the humidifier's instructions, the colder it is outside, the lower the humidistat should be set. If you don't want to keep adjusting it, as the termperature changes, just set it at 25% and leave it there. Excessive humidity leads to mold formation. I see this every day.
- Make sure that the downspouts are drained at least 6 feet away from the house (12 feet is better). Many houses I see have signs of water infiltration into the basement, but the downspouts drain right at the houses foundation. If you take the water away, it is much less likely to come back into the house. Why spend $8,000 on a sump pump system when you can spend $5.00 on a 10 foot section of downspout?
Hope this helps;
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