As Home and Building Inspectors we have a responsibility to "tell like it is" when we are presenting our findings. But, I suggest that when we "tell it", there is a Good Way, a Bad Way and an Ugly Way!
The choice of words we use as Inspectors, what I call InspectorSpeak, can have a profound impact on the outcome of a real estate transaction and on the impression we make with our Clients. At HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC, we try to use words like issues versus problems, deteriorated versus rot, conductor versus wire and column versus post. We are not saying that words like problem, rot, wire and post are necessarily bad, but we suggest that issues, deteriorated, conductor and column are better in that they present a more professional image and, in some cases, are less likely to inflame emotions.
Also, I'm sure we have all heard of the ugly examples of InspectorSpeak. My favorite is the Inspector who told his Client that "the people who built their new house were a bunch of drunks". This after the Inspector found several empty beer cans and bottles in the crawl space. Ouch! Maybe the word debris would have worked better here. And the presumptive comment about their chemical dependency is not helpful.
Please share your war stories about InspectorSpeak. I know you've got some great ones.
Richard
Comments in this blog posting are the intellectual property of Richard Acree, President, HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC, and contributing members of the Active Rain Real Estate network, and are intended to educate and otherwise assist home owners, sellers and buyers, building owners, sellers and buyers, realtors, real estate investors, property managers, and lenders in the process of owning, buying or selling homes or commercial buildings. HABITEC is a residential (home) and commercial building inspection company serving Middle Tennessee including Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Mt. Juliet, Hendersonville, Dickson, Belle Meade, Columbia, Spring Hill and more! In addition to building inspections HABITEC offers Environmental Services for mold assessments, radon testing and water quality analysis. Additional information about HABITEC can be found on our website at www.habitecinspections.com, or call 615-376-2753. Thank You!
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