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What about home inspections don't you understand?

By
Home Inspector with Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections 10072923

What about home inspections don't you understand?

This is the question I asked my niece the other day. She and her fiance' bought a home in a good part of town and "never" called me for an inspection. I told her "I would have done an inspection for free".

I have met a large number of people that have bought a home without a home inspection.

There are Realtors and Banks here that simply have the buyer use a "waiver form" to get around a home inspection.

I was recently talking to a mortgage manager at a bank about getting home inspection. She told me that "we require all home have a home inspection.

Good news right? Not, then she followed it up with if the client wants to bypass the inspection requirements then they simply sign a "waiver form".

I told her "don't you know you might be opening yourself up for all kinds of problems in the future?

She said "not really, I've been doing my job a long time and I don't see a problem with using a waiver form"

 It was at that very moment i was looking at "STRIKE THREE". I knew it was time to leave, I did leave several cards and told her if they needed my services just give me a call.

Maybe my fees are "too Low". If I charge a lot more they might think "I want this company to do the inspections, He's really good "that's why he charges so much".

For those who follows my posts, It makes my decisions a lot easier.

Wish me luck.

Clint McKie

Posted by

 

Clint  McKie

Owner of Desert Sun Home Inspections Carlsbad, New Mexico. Eddy County's only certified home inspection service WITH OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE. Serving all of South East New Mexico. We inspect the homes entire structure from the roof to the foundation, and everything in between. Most reports within 4-24 hours from time of inspection completion. We issue a PDF report with pictures Starting at $250.00 for each home inspection. Why settle for less when you can have the best?

Also included is a Appliance recallcheck and a 90 day warranty with all full home inspections.

When it comes to Quality home inspections. Simply put, we are the best.

1-575-706-5586   www.carlsbad-home-inspector.com Call me for the latest specials.

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Comments (12)

Steve Stenros
Poway,La Jolla,Del Mar,Mira Mesa,Carlsbad,Escondido,Temecula - San Diego, CA
CREIA MCI, ICC, ACI Home Inspector,San Diego

Clint: Raise your inspection fees.  Your time and efforts are worth it.  How much are you worth!  Being a low-price leader is not the recipe for success.

May 14, 2011 03:43 AM
Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Steve. When I first started out, I was looking into how much the "competition charged". I looked at all the info I could. Then I established a price that was in line with the competitions. Within $25.00.

When I continued not to get many inspections I thought it could have been the fact that I was cheaper. I asked several Realtors about the prices and they all said they were in line for the area.

O.K., Now what? I am still not getting any inspections from the "financial" places nor a lot from the Internet.

I rely on "word of mouth". But even that is a hard row to hoe when there is no mouth out there. I do more inspections "out of town than in town"

I do a lot of inspections in the competitions back yard.  Not in the local market where I should be the strongest.

I have tried advertising, fliers, brochures etc, etc.

Not really getting an even lukewarm reception after the four years I have been back in Carlsbad. We have one local inspector that works part time and the other inspectors all work from out of town.

I do a very good job inspecting, How come I cannot "warm up to the local markets"?

Still perplexed in Carlsbad.

Clint McKie  

May 14, 2011 04:11 AM
Rob Thomas
Prestige Homes of The Tri Cities, Inc. CALL....423-341-6954 - Bristol, TN
Bristol TN-VA & Tri Cities Agent, ABR, GRI, e-Pro

Clint.....some people have to learn the hard way.....I would have some testimonials from past clients on how fortunate they were to have had the inspection and what problems it helped eliminate.......Hope it helps!
Hope you have a great day!!---Rob

May 14, 2011 06:41 AM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Well Clint the beat goes on and people wonder why things cost so much, tough call but at the end of the day its your call to make

May 15, 2011 01:21 AM
Toni Weidman
Sailwinds Realty - Trinity, FL
20+ Years Selling Homes in New Port Richey, FL

I always shake my head when I hear someone say they don't "need" an inspection, Clint. Why wouldn't they?

May 15, 2011 01:23 AM
Mona Gersky
MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC - Sylva, NC
GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.

Rob is right, incorporate your testimonials into your marketing plan. If New Mexico prints a form like North Carolina does "Questions and Answers about Home Inspections", you could purchase those and put your card or sticker on them. Then distribute them in home improvement places, real estate offices that love you, Chamber of Commerce...

May 15, 2011 01:44 AM
Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Good morning  Rob, I hear "horror stories" here as well. I still can't fugure why any one in their right mind would not get an inspection. If it is because of the fees? I would even let the pay me in a way it wouldn't be a burden.

ut atleast get a home inspection.

Thank Rob for the comment.

Clint 

May 15, 2011 01:45 AM
Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi James, yes the "beat goes on". I'm just tired of being the one getting beat up. LOL

I will figure out what to do today after the family cookout.

Thanks CLint

May 15, 2011 01:48 AM
Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hey Toni. I was standing in a home of a friend in the very affluent side of town. The home is a $350,000 home. I asked if he got a home inspection when they bought the home. "NO" was his reply.

"Why not" I asked, he said he purchased a "home warranty with the home at a price of $800.00"

He said he was glad he did the a/c unit went out within the warranty period.

I told him at least you had a home warranty. But then added he has not had any trouble with the home since the purchase five years ago.

I just don't think the local Realtors are pushing home inspections at all.

And that's very sad for the buyers.

Thanks for the comments.

Clint McKie

May 15, 2011 01:53 AM
Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Good morning Mona, I have used testimonials in advertising before. I have advertised in the paper and with the web site. I get calls from the "Paper ads" but most are "just wanting to know about pricing"

I have handed out brochures, cards etc. I thought I had saturated the Real Estate market here. But for some reason they still don't call.

But the home inspections I have done have went really well and the client was very happy.

Go figure.

Clint 

May 15, 2011 01:58 AM
Joshua Zargari
MJ Decorators Workshop LI staging and home decorating - Lynbrook, NY
MJ Decorators Workshop

Just stopped by to say hello, Clint.

Wishing you a great and productive day.

May 18, 2011 12:26 AM
Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Thanks' Joshua,

It really means a lot to me.

You have a great day as well.

Clint

May 18, 2011 12:39 AM