Well, darn it, I had no idea that termites prefer single-family residences over condominiums and townhouses. Just no idea whatsoever.

Turns out that a Client of mine re-locating here from another state chose one of my more expensive services that includes a team of licensed professionals in addition to me since home inspectors are not licensed in the State of California. The state he is coming from has licensing for home inspectors.

My team for my TECH inspection includes a licensed plumber, licensed electrician, licensed roofing contractor, licensed heating and cooling technician, and a licensed pest control professional. In choosing my TECH inspection, my Client was curious about why he might need a licensed pest control professional since he is buying a townhouse. Huh?

I tried to explain to him that termites don't know the difference between a townhouse and a single-family residence, but he wasn't having any of that. Consequently, he declined the pest control professional and asked for a discount on my TECH inspection, which I, of course, gave him.

Considering, however, that it's a foreclosure, being sold "as is," and that the bank is exempt from transfer disclosure regulations, including pest control clearance, I'm just amazed that my Client would want to save $100 on an inspection that already is $1,500, especially when it comes to termites. Those little critters swarm twice a year in my neighborhood, and they can destroy the structural integrity of a building in no time flat. Heck. Sooner than George Bush leaves office -- LOL.

Ah, well, the customer is always right, right?

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Some of Russel's other blog entries

1. 12 reasons why I won't comment on your blogs
2. How a Seller can cancel the purchase contract during the home inspection
3. What do you do when the listing agent is, uh, blind maybe?
4. What do you do when deceit is obvious? (chapter two)
5. The garage is not a playground.
6. Need to vent? Feel free to vent (your attic) here.
7. That just ain't the way we do it out here, Sonny Boy
8. Not responsible for advice not taken
9. Sometimes it's just a question of semantics and definitions
10. A true real estate nightmare affecting hundreds of people
11. If the shower head isn't working, just turn up the water pressure
12. I purposefully burned a bridge yesterday
13. What part of that don't you understand? (Reading 101, English 101, & Spanish 101)
14. Out of sight, out of mind, skip the work, charge for it
15. "How much will it cost?" "$399 plus a $100 aggravation surcharge."
16. In a home inspection, if the thing works, the thing works
17. What do you do when deceit is obvious?
18. Sometimes it really is that simple (electric again)
19. Sometimes it really is that simple (attic)
20. Did you put that on the disclosure form? "Oh, we forgot."