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Preparing for a Home Inspection... The Wrong Way

Here's the scenario...

The homeowner's calendar says 9 am - home inspection. "No, problem," he thinks. "I'll just go into work a little late. Maybe about 10 o'clock. After all, how long can a home inspection take? The inspector will walk around and see right away what a great house we have. I'm happy to fix anything he finds"

Two or three hours later, the homeowner is frustrated and angry that the inspector is taking so long and being so picky. "My roof is NOT leaking. Look, do you see any stains in the ceiling. My AC worked fine last summer. What possible damage could a loose toilet do? We don't even use that bathroom. I feel insulted"

And the homeowner's willingness to make repairs becomes diminished by his hurt feelings and unmet expectations.

How can this be prevented?

Posted by Tom Sinclair on 04/04/2007 09:51 AM

Comments (2)

home inspection, seller, leak, ac

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2 Comments on Preparing for a Home Inspection... The Wrong Way

APR

2007

I know what you mean. I think many sellers think we are looking at cosmetic things. I often refer to it as them expecting the inspector to look at the paint and use a torpedo level to see if the pictures are hanging straight on the wall. How long can it take, right? Of course, the inspector is the one who is in trouble if he rushes and misses something significant.

Steve

MAY

2007

We always suggest that the seller is GONE during the inspection. The buyer is the one who hires the inspector. The seller is best not being at the residence while the inspection is going on. Once the inspection is done, then the buyer's agent works with the buyer to develop the BINSR - (Buyer's Inspection Notice Seller's Response). When this document is then given to the seller's agent its up to the seller's agent to work with the seller and diminish the sorts of potential "hurt feelings" your post suggests. More often than not, the seller does not become offended and "hurt" if they were not actually there. Once the information is on the actual BINSR and is handled through the agents, the entire process becomes very factual and official, and not emotional.

Carolin Benjamin
Bob and Carolin Benjamin - The Benjamin Team - Keller Williams Integrity First Realty - Gold Canyon, Arizona

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