Hello again,, Your Friendly Home Inspector, Rick McCullough here once again
How SAFE is your Home Inspection going to be? Strange question I know.
And I am at total loss at how to prevent anything like this. I would welcome suggestions, your comments, ideas, anything you think might help. Not only for me but your fellow agents and clients.
I have on two occasions now been where I have felt threatened during an inspection, I'm not a slight man I stand 6'5", 260 lbs, and can't imagine how the client and agent would have felt or what could have happened if I weren't there at the time. Both times the client and agent were ladies. They were slight in stature.
I'll only relate the first one. The scariest inspection I have ever done.
When I arrived the agents, sellers and buyers, and client were waiting in front of the home. We all greeted each other. Then sellers agent related to me this might be a rather uncomfortable inspection. The parents, who were from out of state, were selling the home and the son, who lived there was upset that he was going to have to move and find and pay for his own place now. I thought she meant that he would be following me around during the inspection. I have been in that situation before,, the seller following me around,, watching over my shoulder. Making comments.. It does not bother me in the least. I inspect the home no matter and give the conditions as I see them, as they are.
She waited outside while the rest of us went up to the door. Knocked and a younger gentleman came to the door. Standing behind the screen door he seemed calm and in control. Not threatening in anyway. He let us in and went off to another part of the house. After checking and starting the appliances in the kitchen. We all proceeded outside to check the exterior. I climbed on the roof, walked around the exterior making notes on the conditions and corrections needed or to be suggested, we walk back in to the kitchen and check the appliances.. The dishwasher has been turned off. I know it could not have cycled through in that time. I started it again. We start down the hall and to the bedrooms and baths, turning on the water in the hall bath I proceed to the first bedroom, door is closed, I knock. I don't hear anything and turn the knob and enter. Good condition, carpet in good condition,, all outlets working properly,, windows open, close and latch easily, on to the second bedroom,, knock no answer, the same condition as the first. Good
Now I knock at the third bedroom door. No answer again, turn the knob and I am greeted by the young gentleman,, standing inside. He is pleasant. I look over the bedroom and the master bath and then leave, closing the door behind me.
The agent and client are in front of me as we walk down the hall. As we get to the living room and I hear the bedroom door open and a rush of footsteps, as I start to turn I am suddenly tackled from behind. We wrestled to the floor, fortunately I ended up on top. I am yelling at the agent and client to get out. Holding the young man down. I am at a total loss at what to do besides hold him down. Then I see a hand gun laying on the floor a few feet away from us. Apparently he had it when he tackled me and dropped it. It wasn't there before.
The agent and client had run outside and called the police.
I was still holding the young man down when they arrived a few minutes later and took over the situation.
The selling agent showed the police a notarized letter from the owners/sellers that we had their permission to be there and for the inspection of the home. That their son might cause trouble and to remove him from the house if he did. The selling agent had given it to the police outside as they arrived where she had been waiting. None of our party were aware of this letter or what might happen till then.
The police took away the young man and I finished the inspection, a couple of extra bumps and bruises, alone in the house. The agents and client left and waited at a nearby café.
When I left the café the agents were in a heated discussion. I had enough of heated discussions for the day.
So I guess instead of offering a Tip today I am asking for one. How should this have been handled BEFORE we ever got to the inspection. I would have preferred that the young man have been GONE. But as an Inspector that wasn't my call.
So any tips and or suggestions would be greatly appreciated,
PLEASE..
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Absolutely, I agree! The property owners and listing agent should have made sure the property was unoccupied at the time of the inspection. I recommend that in all cases, for every inspection, but the owner's instincts about this situation should have made this more than a recommendation in this case. Had anyone been injured, I suspect the agent and owner could have had some culpability.