A Thought on Home Inspectors: or, It's the Photos, Stupid

J, for sure.  There are still some inspectors around here that are not doing computer generated reports and that don't use pictures----but they are slowly disappearing.  Consumers expect more and deserve more.

As a home inspector in Washington state I can tell you that a camera is a life saver. In the last 5 years I can tell you that my pictures during a home inspection has save my clients thousands of dollars. It has even save my butt a few times because I had documented proof.  The day of take my word for it is long gone.

Shawn Martin

Crosby Inspections

Hey Philip:  I too have been surprised with how few inspectors take digital photos during their inspections.  It seems like a "no Brainer" practice to me.

J, when many inspectors first started using cameras, one of the bigger National Home Inspector franchises actually forbid their inspectors using pictures in their reports as it supposedly somehow increased their liability.  They do allow it now as far as I know.

Hello Philip,

A home inspector without a digital camera and a laptop is like a cowboy without his gun and horse. And they better be able to use those tools or just like the cowboy they may shoot themselves or fall off their horse!

That said, some of the best inspectors still use a pen and carbon copies. Their inspections may be as good, but if I ever had to go before a judge about a house problem I would sure rather have a competent inspector with a report full of pictures and neatly written findings on my side!

Kent Davis

Kent,

Good Analogy. Here I would use a fisherman without a boat and net!

Although I agree that there are some really good "old school" inspectors who use multi-part forms if the client and REALTOR are NOT present throughout the inspection then it is difficult to interpet the report. I have been ask numerous times to look at hand written reports and help decipher them. If I as a home inspector have a tough time interpeting the abbreviated comments what about the poor client. The inspector knew what he was seeing and wrote so he understood it but when other read it, it wasn't so clear. 

In my experience being able to communicate the issues so all parties can understand is as important as the experience to recognize the issue. //Rick

Rick Bunzel, CRI
Pacific Crest Inspections
NAHI Member of the Year 2008
NPSAR Affiliate of the Year 2006-2007
WWW.PacCrestInspections.com
360-588-6956
Fax 360-588-6965
Toll Free 866-618-7764

Rick you are so right. In our market one of the oldest inspection companies went out of business this year. While they were competent and impartial during the inspection the handwritten report they generated had jargon, abbreviations and just generally not legible. Not confidence inspiring document for the Buyer.

Contrasting their report from one I received today uploaded to HomeGauge. Very thorough, lots of pictures and well presented findings.  My Buyer will know more about this house than the Seller who lived there for years.

And it keeps a history of the homes I have ordered inspections for - it's a long list and readily available to me if I ever need them.

Good communication to all parties is super important - We have a much better chance of keeping a deal on track to Close if we all can see and understand the inspection report!

Kent Davis

I would like the photos in those hard to find places, to see what the attic looks like or underneath a crawl space.