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What's Right with the Property?

By TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.

Home Inspector with Complete Home Inspections, Inc. TN Lic#050

August 22, 2011 09:37 AM

What's Right with the Property?
     As home inspectors, we are hired by agents and prospective owner alike to find what's wrong with the property. Far too many times, inspectors are quick to start the litany of what is wrong. This often leaves the buyer with a "bad taste" in their mouth and second thoughts about the dwelling.
Every property, challenged or otherwise, has some good points too. It could be the neighborhood, new floor covering, or beautifully manicured landscape.
     I have talked to many real estate professionals over the years searching for the number one reason why agents look elsewhere for a good home inspector. The main motivation behind dropping the yahoo they currently use is they “kill too many deals” with strong negative verbiage, blow things out of peroration or scare the crap out of the potential buyers.
     A blend of both the positive and negative or the "Oreo" approach, helps make the transaction more palatable. After all, not every property is ready for a date with the bulldozer. There are at least 10 positive things that can be said about every house.
     Leaving the buyer with a positive impression often makes working through the repair contingency easier and a better overall transaction...

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Kathy Streib

Cypress, TX

Home Stager/Redesign

Michael- you are so right on this. We sold a home once and the inspector came up with a report so big it could choke a cow. Fortunately the sale did go through.

Aug 22, 2011 09:49 AM

Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate

John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR

"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

OH, Michael, it's just like Kathy said--you are SO right! I really like people to realize that there is no perfect house, just like there's no perfect spouse, but there are MANY redeeming qualities that need to be mentioned up front or throughout the discussion, or just like a romance, it'll be over before it even starts!

Aug 22, 2011 09:58 AM

Amanda Howard

Century 21 Garner Properties - Independence, KY

NorthernKentuckyHomes.com 859-363-9900

Thanks for being so positive, Michael! It really helps us out!

Aug 22, 2011 09:58 AM

Ann Allen Hoover

RE/MAX Advantage South - Hoover, AL

CDPE SRES ASP e-PRO Realtor - Homes for Sale - AL

I just heard from one of my buyer clients......all excited from the results of his inspection. Only very minor issues and the inspector congratulated him on finding such a great house!

Aug 22, 2011 10:05 AM

Barb Van Stensel

Chicago, IL

Michael, I always tell my buyers that the disclosure forms are mostly lies and do not take them for granted. We pretty much know what is wrong with the property before someone great like you comes in ... I have always told my buyers that if they think they are like they were when they were 18, then they are fooling themselves. Bottom is, I tell them that a home inspection is two fold: to get acquainted with the home with the inspector there to guide and answer questions; and (2) to disclose the unknown or known (but hidden) elements of the home such as safety, hazard, structural, etc.

Where they don't go well is when I have an inspector who has no experience in their background, nor is qualified to be alone doing an inspection and starts blaring away when it is something that can be remedied and simple. Rare.

Overall, the home inspections are constructive in findings and that is what I like to see and it definitely sounds like that is the way you are too. Still wish you were in Chicago.

Aug 22, 2011 10:25 AM

Donald Hester

NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA

NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Michael,

I think you can provide all the details and still be real with the home. Every home will have something (my home included ; ) that is not quite right. Most items in a report can easily addressed.

Aug 22, 2011 01:48 PM

Jay Markanich

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA

Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

All of my reports include the good, bad and indifferent about properties. Sometimes the good outweighs the bad!

Aug 22, 2011 11:47 PM

Randy Ostrander

Lake and Lodge Realty LLC - Big Rapids, MI

Real Estate Broker, Serving Big Rapids and West Central MI

Good call Michael. I would never ask an inspector to not report an issue but sometimes saying a loose screw could "kill people because the door could fly off the hinges" might be overkill. lol

Aug 23, 2011 12:31 PM