Home Inspectors ~ TOO PICKY or A BIG HELP??

An educated buyer is the best kind of buyer. I'm a bit biased since I only work with buyers, but home inspectors are a valuable part of my transactions, even if it causes us to have to go back to the drawing board.

I appreciate a good, thorough inspector. We do have a couple in our area who are known as deal busters. I do everything in my power to avoid having them do an inspection for my clients or for buyers of my listings. I do not mind honest thoroughness.

I think inspectors should be very detailed, but I don't understand why inspectors feel the need to discuss "cosmetic" issues as that's not their job.  To see things like peeling wallpaper and burnt out lightbulb in lamp, especially when the lamp is personal property and not part of the sale, is ridiculous.  Why does an inspector need to talk with a buyer about those things.  The inspector should talk about the systems of the house as that's what we can't visually see on our own.

Never to picky and all of mine will tell the buyer that this or that is in need of help or needs to be fixed. They have also put up with snake skins (only for my buyer to find the snake later) in fire places and under the home. 

I didn't think I had to disclose that there was a real snake in the home after the skins were found. I will always ask my buyers if they want an inspection or not. I never want a buyer coming back at me for something.

www.bobsellssumter.com

I think a home inspector is working for the Buyer and should do their job properly!!

To me, that means that a home inspector should point out all the defects.

However, I find the quality difference in home inspector in HOW they communicate the information to the Buyer.  For example "The electrical system in the family room is non-functional." vs. "That two dollar power outlet is burned-out."

Also, normal wear and tear for a house of this age is an appropriate comment to place a minor defect in context on a 30 year old home....

The way the information is presented to a Buyer matters.  It all should be presented, but a power outlet should sound less important than the bugs infestation has destroyed roughly half the lumber under the home.

You've likely been recommended by a real estate agent, but you've been HIRED by the Buyer.

I think some real problems turn up with "Forecasting".  The focus should be on is it acceptable today?  There also seems to be confusion when inspecting an Older house (Grandfathering) as a newer house.

I've certainly had the home inspection work both ways, however, I will probably always recommend getting the home inspected to my buyers.  I simply tell them that I have never bought a property without hiring a home inspector, and let them decide from there.  Most will hire somebody.

Boy could we go on for hours about home inspectors...well ever have one BREAK SOMETHING??  Seems like my luck that they are always "accidently Breaking" Things... one time a faucet... another time a window... gee ... Could we be careful??  I like good reports but Careful!!

Thanks,

Tom Davis

World Class Delaware Realtor

a BIG HELP, but I agree that it's in HOW the information is presented to the buyer and how professional the inspector is about it. Like Bill said, there's a difference between saying the garage door is missing a piece of weatherstripping versus saying that the garage seals have failed and are not serviceable and such. 

I like those that are straightforward, tell it like it is, hold no punches, but no exaggeration. My fave inspector finds everything they can, then tells the buyers, hey, this is a $5 part and a half hour on a free Saturday. 

then I have those that say the roof needs to be replaced because 1 shingle is missing....

It seems to have gone both ways for me with regards to home inspectors. Although, I have noticed that the newer inspectors seem to be much more focused on pointing out every little detail on their reports while the more experienced inspectors note cosmetic items and but mainly focus on defects that truly need to be corrected before the sale moves forward. Just my 2 cents..