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Mrs. Home Inspector why did you fail my house?

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Home Inspector with JTHIS-Professional Home Inspection Team NACHI 04062481

Mrs. Home Inspector why did you fail my house?

Taking notes

This is the call I got this morning from an angery seller. She felt it was totally unfair of me to fail her house.

I explained that I'm a home inspector, not a school teacher. I don't pass or fail houses, I just report what I see

My client is paying me to find any issue(s) or problem(s) with the property they are about to purchase.

I can't pretend I don't see defects that exists at the time of the inspection. If I were inspecting the property for you, would you like me to ignore what I see? It didn't matter, she wasn't insterested in my explanation. She just wanted to yell at me and hang up and so she did.

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I hope you enjoyed my blog. If you are looking to purchase a home in Northeastern Pa. and are planning on having an inspection or simply have questions regarding home inspections, please don't hesitate to give me a call.

Suesan Jenifer Therriault
JTHIS - Professional Home Inspection Team
PO Box 357
Blakeslee, Pa 18610
(570) 262-7551


 


 

Comments (36)
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

If this doesn't speak to the value of having a pre-sale inspection to ensure the buyer's inspector doesn't come in and find a ton of problems, I don't know what does!

Mar 09, 2013 10:07 PM
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Suesan, obviously the seller wasn't prepared for any issues found by the inspection. Hopefully, the homeowner doesn't hang up on the buyer.

Mar 09, 2013 10:26 PM
Donald Reich
Prudential Centennial - New Rochelle, NY

Just out of curiosity, are you able to show the report to the seller? This should answer his questions. If you can't, why not suggest to him to ask his buyer to see the report?

Mar 09, 2013 11:40 PM
Rob Ernst
Certified Structure Inspector - Reno, NV
Reno, NV-775-410-4286 Inspector & Energy Auditor

It often amazes me how people can live in a house for long periods of time with little or no maintenance then get upset when the Home Inspector comes in and tells them things are not in good condition. 

Mar 10, 2013 12:26 AM
Marc McMaster
RE/MAX Centre Realty - State College, PA
Putting my clients before myself

There are way too many people involved in the real estate biz with their blinders on!  Buyers, Sellers, and Agents!

Mar 10, 2013 01:01 AM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Ditto what Rob in #20 said.  I haven't gotten one of those calls myself and hope I never do.  I think I have just been "lucky":)

Mar 10, 2013 03:04 AM
Richard Arnold
Keller Williams Realty East Valley - Tempe, AZ
Realtor - Tempe, Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, Phoenix

This angry Seller probably tried to call the Buyer and yell at them to get yet another home inspection - as if that would erase the issues!

 

 

Mar 10, 2013 03:05 AM
Edward Gilmartin
CRE - Boston, MA

And oftentimes an inspector finds flaws in a home and the buyer still goes on and buys it depending on how much he really wants the place.

Mar 10, 2013 03:15 AM
Keith Lawrence
Christie's International - Mahwah, NJ
ABR, SFR

It is always good to prepare the buyer for an inspection that there will be flaw in a house even a new one. 

Mar 10, 2013 03:31 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster REALTORS®, Gainesville, VA - Bristow, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

No, a good home inspector would never over look defects.  I've had plenty of home owners call and clarify items that were mentioned on the report, but never wig out on the inspector.  Sorry someone did that to you.

Mar 10, 2013 03:38 AM
Mark Horan
Resident Team Realty, LLC & Toni's Property Management LLC - Saint Cloud, FL
"The Resident Chef" - Resident Team Realty LLC &

Suesan, Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it a insurance liability to you if you don't document all that you see?

Mar 10, 2013 04:44 AM
Roy Kelley
Realty Group Referrals - Gaithersburg, MD

Home inspectors sometimes have to restrain themselves when the sellers are unhappy with the inspection results.  That must be one of the most unpleasant aspects of the work.

Mar 10, 2013 05:04 AM
Jon Karlen
Finish Line Realty - Shelbyville & Louisville Ky Real Estate - Shelbyville, KY
Louisville & Shelbyville Kentucky real estate

Inspectors have to do their job.  Its not "personal".  They just have to write up what they see as potential problems/issues.

Mar 10, 2013 05:09 AM
Jeana Cowie
RE/MAX Real Estate Limited - Paramus, NJ
Broker Associate, ABR, CRS, GRI, SRES

Suesan, Congrats on a job well done for your client. Shame on the homeowner for calling you to complain.

 

Mar 10, 2013 07:50 AM
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Well Suesan I guess you caught the brunt of her anxiety ..I bet it wasn't the first time and I bet it won't be the last

Mar 10, 2013 09:47 AM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Suesan,

Sometimes sellers can't handle the truth.  Especially if they have lived in the house for many years and not maintained it.

Mar 10, 2013 10:10 AM
Randy Hilman REALTOR® Associate Broker
Randy Hilman Homes - Moultonborough, NH
Guide & Mentor to Home Buyers & Sellers

You're not representing the seller, so fugitaboutit!  You're doing your job well. You're seeing to you're client's best interests.  Do you have a need to be loved by everyone?  If not, move on.  If so, you're in the wrong business.

Mar 10, 2013 01:43 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

It refreshing to know that inspectors just report the facts about what they see Suesan.

Mar 10, 2013 06:15 PM
Joshua Frederick
Home Inspector for ASPEC Residential Services, LLC - Defiance, OH
Home Inspector in Defiance & all of Northwest Ohio
People always want someone to blame for things that don't go their way, and unfortunately, we're in a profession that allows them to easily scapegoat us.
Mar 10, 2013 08:26 PM
Vince Chinell
VICO Home Inspection - Branson, MO
CPI

Sounds like the seller got caught telling everyone the home was in excellent condition and you found it was not.  Sounds like you did your job and the seller got put in a tight spot.  

Mar 10, 2013 10:50 PM
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