Can I Pay in a Week or Two or Three?
A realtor call my office this morning on behalf of her clients. My wife, Tina, had spoken with the clients the previous day to answer some questions and get them pricing. They seemed happy with everything and said their realtor would be calling us to setup the inspection date.
Tina took the call from the realtor.. we'll call her "Sally"... and got all the information needed to setup the inspection.
Sally asked about payment and Tina explained that payment was due at the time of the inspection.
"Well, my buyers are really nervous and this is their first place and they are concerned about spending money," says Sally.
Tina is wondering where this is going and lets her continue. We were first time homebuyers once upon a time and, yes, it's scary to fork over hundreds of dollars on a property, especially if you are going through a little buyer's remorse.
"Instead of paying at the inspection, couldn't you just bill them and they can pay in a week or two or three?" she asks.
Tina responds that we typically take payment at the end of the inspection with cash, check or money order. However, we are more than happy to send them a Paypal invoice if it's more convenient for them to pay with a credit card. Tina is thinking that maybe these buyers are a little tight for cash and have rent coming up on the first. A credit card is a good way to put off a payment for a little bit.
Sally, the realtor, did not seem happy with this and says, "Oh, you can't just bill them? Just send the bill to me and I'll make sure they pay it. They are worried that this house won't work out."
What does this mean? They don't want to pay for the inspections if the house doesn't work out? Tina then wonders if it's about the clients being satisfied with the inspection, so she tells Sally, "We guarantee the clients' satisfaction with every home inspection. If the clients aren't happy with their home inspection, they don't pay." Then, of course, I wouldn't waste a few hours of my time writing up a home inspection and termite report. I have offered this guarantee for 11 years and someone has yet to take me up on this offer. I think the clients, once they see how thorough I am and how much they are learning about the home, all their fear goes away and they are more than happy to pay and proceed with purchase (or cancellation) their home with confidence.
Tina was sure this guarantee would make Sally very happy, but she still seemed upset.
What else could we offer? A hazy due date for payment of the home inspection? For what purpose? If they can't afford the home inspection with a check or credit card at this time, are they going to be able to afford a house?
In the home inspection industry, it's pretty standard for payment to be due at the time of the service. With everything we have going on in the business, we don't want to add "collections" to our list of duties. If the buyers can't afford the home inspection, perhaps they should wait several more months and save up that money!
Can I pay in a week or two or three just doesn't sound too good!
David Artigliere is a ASHI-certified home inspector
and owner of ARTI Home Inspections LLC.
He can be reached by visiting www.artihomeinspections.com or by
calling (610) 220-1907
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