I'm sure many people are familiar with the term "buyer's remorse", its not unique to the real estate market. When the high emotion and excitement of the "new home purchase" is over, the logical reasoning for the decisions made is realized.
I received a call requesting inspection services, the caller mentioned that her husband had previously used my services. Referrals are typically good business and I anticipated another good experience.
During the current home inspection, she initiated a conversation about my previous inspection services and how the Seller's agent and Buyer's agent were "offended" by my opinion and comments on the condition of the home. They decided not to purchase that home, with one of the reason being an uncomfortable feeling of being able to keep up with the maintenance and anticipated repairs.
I feel my most important inspection, is my current inspection. I focus on the current inspection without dwelling on any of the comments of the previous inspection. I listen carefully to her story, thinking there might be some concerns with this house that relate to the previous inspection.
She continued with her story through-out the current inspection, and also mentioned that she did not use our inspection services for their current home. She mentions they were persuaded by the agent's comments and termed my previous inspection as "offensive". The story continued with use of the "Agent Referred Home Inspector".
She continued to tell me that they felt comfortable with the services and report of the "Agent Referred Home Inspector" during the inspection and continued with the purchase of the home.
I continue to focus on the current home, listening for areas of concern as she tells her story about my "offensive inspection" and the previous inspection of their current house. Her story continues with the many unanticipated repair costs to their current home. She described many areas of their current home where they realized the problems after a short period of occupancy. She told me about her buyer's remorse (unanticipated repair costs in a short occupancy period) and the regret about being persuaded to use the "Agent Referred Home Inspector".
She tells me that in looking back upon her experience, she now disagrees with the "offensive inspection" comments from their agent and now sees the value of concise direct terms used during the home inspection.
Elaborated writings of how a component of a home appears to be functinoal during the inspection, yet could be improved, gave her the impression that the repairs will be required in the distant future instead of the near future. The "friendly non-offensive" terms contributed to the lack of understanding or significance of the condition of the home.
I'm glad that she felt comfortable enough to share her experiences and concerns with me about her perspective on home buying and home inspections. I focus on listening to her and avoid questions about the previous agent and previous inspector.
One of the reasons for Masschusetts Home Inspector licensing was:
"There are no laws or regulations preventing a real estate broker from recommending a specific home
inspector, creating a potential conflict of interest between a home inspector's duty to his client and the
need to maintain a favorable referral relationship with a real estate broker." - 1998 Senate Report "A Crack In The Foundation"
Massachusetts General Law now includes a prohibition of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons from recommending a home inspector, unless there is a signed exclusive buyer's agent agreement between broker and buyer.
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