home inspection: The Home Inspection Blues - 07/04/11 06:50 PM
Heard of the home inspection blues? After viewing dozens of homes over many weeks, you've selected the perfect house. The price is negotiated! The contract is signed! Plan the house-warming party! Call the movers!
But what's the REALTOR® droning on about...home inspection? You shush her while you dream of serving pancakes to smiling children on a sunny morning. You can see the Christmas tree in the front window....the gardens you'll plant in the spring.
In the blink of an eye your REALTOR® changes...from the chirpy cheerleader who loved every house to a dour-faced skeptic who is muttering about "material defects" and … (121 comments)

home inspection: What's the Purpose of a Home Inspection? More or Less Than You Think? - 01/26/11 03:07 PM
Is there increasing conflict between the various service providers in a real estate transaction? The conflict between home inspectors and Realtors® seems to have increased in the past year or two. Are some home inspectors expanding the scope and role of the home inspection and are some Realtors® becoming more territorial in response?
In Illinois, home inspectors must be licensed by the state. Many are also certified by national orgnizations such as NAHI, ASHI, NACHI, and NHICC. These groups have comprehensive standards of practice and code of ethics that exceed the IL state standards. The standards of the national groups and … (8 comments)

home inspection: Do you prep your buyers for the physical inspection? - 07/16/10 07:57 AM
Buyers and sellers can have wildly different expectations for the home inspection. The seller probably already feels like he is giving his perfect home away. The buyer is mentally spinning on "I'm spending half a million dollars, and this house better be perfect". Reality is usually somewhere in between. I have prepped sellers for home inspection, and now I see that Ralph has the great idea of prepping buyers as well. Good post for everyone in the business.
 
Do you prep your buyers for the physical inspection?
The physical inspection is where we as licensed agents sometimes hit a bump … (0 comments)

home inspection: The Purpose of a Home Inspection - 04/22/10 01:51 PM
 
In Illinois the home inspection is the chance for the buyer to make sure that there are no major structural, health or safety issues with the home. The attorneys who see the attorney review/home inspection phase as the chance to grab a few thousand more for the buyer are actually hurting their clients.  Thanks to Drick for a great article describing the issues related to home inspection.
 
A home inspection is a common contingency in many purchase agreements today, but some people (including some agents) don't really understand what it's for.  It seems that over the past decade, some … (2 comments)