Special offer

Home Inspector reports vs underwriter reviews, why are we in the middle?

By
Real Estate Agent with Fathom Realty Washington LLC

Home Inspector reports vs underwriter reviews, why are we in the middle?

Legal terms in the boiler plate of home inspection reports are becoming headaches for both real estate brokers and loan officers. More and more banks and lending institutions as well as appraisers are requiring to see the home inspection reports.

The same legal terms that keep Home Inspectors out of court are giving mortgage underwriters the heebbie jeebbies. A simple request or recommendation worded the wrong way can add days to your transaction and finally the catch 22; all underwriters and appraisers have different pet peeve; danger words. For instance;

  • One appraiser required every strong recommendation to be completed before they  would submit their appraisal. Oh wait that was just suppose to be a recommendation. (Required a  2 day extension and we almost lost an interest rate lock...)
  • An underwriter equated professional, licensed, bonded contractor with being a journeyman union worker. This is because her husband was a union worker and she equated professionals with union. She requested all workers resumes and all receipts be from union shops. (OK, we got this overturned however it took a week to explain and document...)

 

There has to be an answer that keeps home inspectors safe from lawsuits and underwriters and appraisers satisfied.

Do you have any suggestions?

This post was authored by and this photo taken by Paul Henderson. ©2013, All Rights Reserved, This content may not be reproduced or reprinted (Except for ActiveRain Re-blogging) without express written permission of Paul Henderson, RE/MAX Professionals, Tacoma, WA.

Clip Art by Microsoft
Posted by

 and courtesy of 

Paul S. Henderson, Residential Real Estate Broker 

Tacoma Washington 

Realtor ® BPOR, CRS, GRI, CDPE

Fathom Realty WA LLC

Serving

South Puget Sound in Washington State

 

 

 

 

Paul's Service Area


 

 

As a Residential Broker and Relocation Specialist, I sell homes in or around ,Tacoma, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Steilacoom,  University Place, DuPont and Hartstene Pointe in Washington State.
Please visit my website at http://www.hartstenepointe.com to search for information 

(all information is believed to be accurate but is not guaranteed or warranted in any way)

Referrals are always welcomed and appreciated, Thank-you!

(As a member of the NWMLS, this blog post is intended to comply with NWMLS rules as pertaining to blogging.)

isspfmtysmily

iaa

 

Comments(4)

Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Paul, this is a really good post.  I think that the three parties (home inspectors, appraisers and mortgage people) should all be put in a paper bag until these issues get clarified.  No home inspector wants to "unintentionally" throw stones in gears that are not even there---especially over "semantics."  Either that or different appraisers and different mortgage brokers or different inspectors might be in order.  I try to be very clear about who I want to fix things---occasionally someone has tried to "translate" that to some other repair person.

Sep 10, 2013 12:55 AM
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

Charles,

I have witnessed your professionalism. I have found that part of the problem is also when a agent does a cut and paste inspection response. Where as they take part of the report but not all of the section.

I am having more and more requests for the entire report which can also lead to misunderstandings...

Sep 10, 2013 02:42 AM
Kay Van Kampen
RE/MAX Broker, RE/MAX - Springfield, MO
Realtor®, Springfield Mo Real Estate

This is a difficult situation for all involved.  I don't believe that the lender needs to see the complete inspection report.....just the required repairs.  But they still request them, then require additional clarification.  There's got to be a better way to define some of the problems.

Sep 10, 2013 10:51 AM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Paul

The answer is no and they are becoming a big target.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Sep 10, 2013 12:27 PM