Inspection too thorough?

I know my inspector is very detailed. I just started using her last year and a client I have done several deals with listed his home and during the inspection he complained about how detailed she was compared to the previous one. Well I don't care who I am representing I want that in my inspector.

Sue:

I am an inspector. Many of the agents say that I am picky ,but that is my job to list  recommendation for review or repair.

I have been in the business since 1994 and I can say that 99.% of the agents feel as you do. It is better to deal with this up front than after the fact. Repeat business and referrals are what we work for so that we can remain in the business long term. Individuals that cut corners do not stay around long.

I would like for you to consider joining my group Hill Country Inspector and leave your perspective from time to time.

Have a nice Memorial weekend. 

Carl Winters, Advanced Inspector, License #3630, Complete Inspection Service, Cell: 830-660-0131

Serving San Antonio and the hill country since 1994.

Activerain group: Hill Country Inspector 

More media dribble.

Just ignore it.  When we get a fair shake from the media, I'll throw a party.

I believe that our job really begins AFTER our buyers find the home they want to buy.  

Once you have a contract and the inspection reveals defects, how they are handel separate the good agents from the . . . . . . .

I used to use Home Inspection Companies and had a number  I thought were quite good. I am so anal when it comes to looking around and looking for things that might be signs of problems. I have often discovered visually many things that inspectors never noticed and would call them out to them. I figured we worked as a team. to discover everything we could about the property. I council my Buyers and Sellers that it is so much easier to deal with things you know vrs things that are not discovered.

I then had conversations with attorneys that specifically advised if I was recommending Home Inspectors, I would be much better in getting strong recommendation to Licensed Contractors. I knew of several that did inspections and for the last couple years my list of about 20 Home Inspectors are all Licensed Contractors. Makes me sleep better that I have made this change.

You can't be too thorough.

I have seen articles such as this for years now. Agents do get a bad rap and I really think it is just a 'point' of conversation writers of such articles include....filler talk. Yes, while getting bad news concerning an inspection isn't always pleasant to deal with at times, I'd prefer to deal with the issues BEFORE the buyer takes ownership rather than when he moves in and something isn't functioning.  Ignoring a problem and pretending it isn't there will only work for a short time and then reality is going to slap somebody in the face. And guess who that will be!

The reason that we have such a bad reputation?  Because as a whole, we deserve it.  I'm not saying this to be mean or disparaging,  There are way too many people with their real estate licenses causing the pie to be split too many different ways.  This financial pressure causes many to behave in a manner that is undesirable.  If this happens enough times, then the public starts to get wary.  

The fact that the public feels the way that they do is evidence of this fact!

 

Bob Mitchell

ValueList Real Estate Services, Inc. 

Hi Sue,

I'm just a little north of you (up near Sherman).

I've been a Facilities Engineer in the corporate world for the most of the last two decades, but I have long thought about starting a private business doing real estate inspections and providing real estate related engineering services.  I finally made the leap at the beginning of this year. 

Besides being an Engineer (and now a home inspector), I am also an MBA, so I have thought a lot about the nature of marketing home inspections.  Most people know next to nothing about real estate transactions.  I was the same way 25 years ago when, fresh out of college, I bought my first home.  The only thing I knew to do was find a realtor, and I took the realtor's word for everything.  When the realtor asked what title company I wanted to use, I didn't even know what a title company was much less which one I wanted to use.  The realtor never mentioned an inspection, but if he had, I would have used the one he suggested.  Fortunately, my technical training made me a pretty good judge of the home's quality.

If a buyer is competant to find and select his/her own inspector, then that is probably the best alternative for everyone (including the realtor).  But, the fact is that most buyers don't have a clue which inspector to hire, or even what to expect from an inspector.  They will seek guidance from their realtor because they don't know what else to do.  This puts the realtor in a powerful (and legally risky) position, and it puts inspectors in the awkward position of trying to cultivate goodwill with realtors while, at the same time reporting things realtors don't like to hear.  

I believe the vast majority of realtors understand that their best opportunity to make money is by working in an open, honest, and healthy market.  Even if you lose some sales, you will make more money in the long run working in a market where everything is on the up-&-up.   As an inspector, I understand that my best opportunity to make money is also in an open, healthy market where buyers are buying and sellers are selling and everyone is happy.  Nothing pleases me more than telling a customer that a home is in excellent condition with, perhaps, a few very minor "defects."   But, it is necessary to always be thorough and honest even when the news isn't very good.  In the long run, all news is good news as long as it is honest and correct.

I think it goes back to the thing where a little yeast affects the whole dough.  There are agents out there who recommend inferior inspectors and it does reflect on all of us.  Personally I don't understand why you would do that.  If you have the buyer all you have to do is go find another house.

If I am referring someone I want to know they are doing a very thorough inspection.  I just recently took an inspector off my list because I did not think he was thorough enough. 

I can remember when I first got into real estate, I didn't know any better I gave one inspectors name and my buyer came back to me and said "Do you get a kick back for recommending the inspector? That floored me, so I solved that by giving them several 3 or 4 and let the buyer decide who they want.

I find that most real estate agents give a list of inspectors to clients and let them pick who they want to pick. In some of the larger firms we have to show our license and E&O in order to be on the list. Also, many  buyers now go to the internet to find an inspector in the area. Many of  my inspections come from word of mouth from people that I have done inspections for in the past.

* Get the items fixed before you put the home on the market. This is why so many sellers are now having an inspection before putting the home on the market.

Carl Winters, License #3630, Complete Inspection Service, Serving San Antonio & surrounding area since 1994