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OMG! I can't believe he's saying this stuff

I just got an e-mail forwarded from a Realtor friend. It's from a home inspector that has been licensed a little over a year. All I can say is, times must be getting tough to be so DESPERATE.

First on his list is he is going to make sure to say NICE things about the houses he inspects.

He then goes on to say he wants to make sure the sales go through. He says, "And I know that You need to close every transaction you get so that you can achieve Your goals."

He is going to think twice about putting something on the "Summary Page". Maybe even sugar coat things, or I guess, leave things out, so the sale may go through.

I can't help but think that this guy has thrown his ethics (if he ever had any) out the window to try to dig up some business. I guess forgetting who your real client is was swept under the rug in the search for a few dollars. It's pretty sad.

What may be more tragic, is if some ethics challenged Realtor decides to get this guy to inspect a house just to collect a commission.

This is the type of guy that gives home inspectors a bad name.

Posted by Jack Feldmann on 12/03/2008 10:16 PM

Comments (15)

ethics, bottom feeders, scum suckers

Post is included in group: ASHI
Post is included in group: Ethics and the home inspector
Post is included in group: Home Inspections
Post is included in group: Knoxville, TN Real Estate Information
Post is included in group: Tennessee Home and Building Inspectors

15 Comments on OMG! I can't believe he's saying this stuff

DEC

2008

This is actually this guys marketing material? I can bet that he won't be around too long.

This sounds unethical and is probably illegal as well. The inspector(s) I use are very blunt about what they find.

And unfortunately ... this bad apple will wind up spoiling the whole pot of sauce. Perhaps someone with more experience and a strong moral fiber needs to have a talk with him.

Absolutely an inspector I would NEVER use! When the house falls down around the buyer, they are going to blame me for selling them a lemon! Doesn't he know who his client is?

Thats pretty crazy. I feel sorry for the guy because he wont last long and shouldnt.

Scary thought, this guy must think that he will increase his business by sending out that letter. Hopefully the realtors in the area will have enough ethics not to fall for it. We are very fortunate to have a very qualified home inspector in our area that we can trust to call an ace an ace and a spade a spade.

How do you know he's only been licensed for a year? Is there a way to find out?

I always tell my clients to pick out their own inspector. We have a list but I tell them they can choose whoever they want. There is one I really like. He is honest and forthcoming, but is very good at explaining things in a calm manner.

Jack, This is the type of guy who eventually gets sued, and deserves everything he gets.

Kristal, Anyone can go the the TN State web site and look up licenses of anyone. For home inspectors, it shows when they first got their license, and also how many hours of continuing education they have. In his case, he has 4 and will need 32 in May of 2009.

Richard,

I was in court yesterday as an expert witness for a couple that are suing the sellers of their house and the home inspector they used. In his case, he was not only incompetent, he wasn't licensed. The house has BIG problems - he is soooooo screwed.

DEC

2008

I like your tags, quite appropriate and funny too!

But he'll be replaced by another one just like him. There will always be a few like that. Do what you can to clear it out and move on.

There's always the bottom feeding scum suckers out there in every profession.

DEC

2008

Times are hard right now and everyone is treading water. Those that compromise themselves and their business won't be in business long. But like Erby said there will always be those guys in every profession.

I bet he had a reduced fee too. I get price shoppers all the time that say, "an inspection is an inspection" and they get what they pay for. The American Dream isn't suppose to include paying for a new roof you didn't know you needed.

DEC

2008

GI know a number of agents in my area that will not give business to any inspector who "kills" their sales (IN THEIR OPINION THAT IS ANYTHING NEGATIVE IN THE REPORT).

They are not doing anyone a service here, court is never fun and very expensive.

JAN

Jack,

He's actually following a marketing script designed by Ken Compton of Home Inspection Startup and Growth. He won't be the only one that puts that marketing out there as Ken is quite popular.

For my part, I don't debate whether something goes on the summary page or not. I make my evaluation and I use my rules to make that determination. If I don't provide consistency to my referral sources (and great inspecitons to my clients), I'll be out of business in short order.

I'm known as the pickiest inspector in my region. The great Realtors are my target referrals and they want the client taken care of. No way to do that if on Monday that FPE panel is defective and the next day it's just hunky dory.

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