As home inspectors, we are hired to find out what is wrong with the property that we are inspecting, and are quick to start the litany of what is wrong and do not take a moment to say what is good with the property. Think about it. If you were purchasing the property what would you want to hear, the good along with the bad or just the bad? After talking to many real estate professionals, the number one reason that agents go elsewhere for home inspector and drop you is either you “kill too many deals” with strong negative verbiage, blowing things out of peroration or scare the crap out of the potential buyers.
I have learned that a blend of both the good and bad helps make the transaction more palatable. After all, not every property we inspect is ready for the bulldozer. If the property is in a great location or close to a school say so. Think about it, there are at least 10 positive things that you can say about every house that you inspect. After all, the real estate agent’s customer is going to live in the property long after you and the agent are gone. What impression do you want to leave?
Have you joined my birthday alarm? It is fast painless and the best part of all, you will be helping me out.
Because I need your help, subscribe to my blog.
Michael
Copyright © 2008 by Michael Thornton - Complete Home Inspections, Inc., All Rights Reserved.
You are so right! I have worked with several home inspectors, we learn who to use and who not to use. I have a couple I would never recommend to anyone. They went out of their way to kill the deal we had. They must not need the income, they never did another inspection for our agency!
Mike great point. I hope every home inspector reads this.
Hi Mike
I went thru 3 home inspectors til I found someone who could talk with my buyers.
Good Points
Rich
Being good and positive about the home the buyers have selected is essential. A home inspection is just an opinion that is paid for.
Nanette... Thanks for the comment...
Rich... I have heard the same thing from other agents as well...
Ellie... good point...
Mike;
You are so true. I cringe on the home inspection as most pick apart the home with nit-noy items that I then have to deal with. Understand, homes built in 1950 do not have GFI's, grounded outlets, and other things that homes built in 2006 have, but they are usually perfectly fine and were built to code in that time period. If you want a brand new home, they should buy a brand new home!
Michael You are so right. There is a way to present information that some inspectors just don't do well. I prepare my buyers by telling them that they may hear things that will concern them but that the inspector will offer suggestions on simple problems and they should expect some things to come up. After the inspection we go over their concerns and deal with them. Sometimes a house has a big unexpected issue that requires my buyers to walk away but sometimes the inspectors will frighten buyers away with the way they say things.
Morning Michael,
Right on once again. I think of the inspector that we use as the Oreo man, Two good comments to each negative. The buyers in most cases come away feeling good about their decision and take the negatives in stride.
Michael,
I have one of the best home inspectors, he is fair, honest and works for the buyer as he should. He carefully explains his findings without exploiting the negatives. He gives potential remedies and doesn't play games. See my blog on it.
"I am not an alarmist; I view situations as solution-oriented, not as problems. It's how you present the information that helps the buyer feel at ease and increases their opportunity to enjoy the home."
This is a quote from my competitors website.
Telling someone they are missing GFCI outlets at the kitchen is what we are paid to do. Just because it wasn't required in 1960 doesn't mean it's not a safety issue. If it's missing but required today, don't you think it's a safety issue.
Let's say you or 'your' home inspector (it's really your clients inspector) said the missing kitchen GFCI's weren't required in 1960, they are an upgrade, and he took your advice and never installed them then he got electrocuted, how would you feel?
My inspections aren't just to determine the condition of the house, they are to advise my client about everyday safety issues. I don't know who will occupy the house, so I tell them how to protect the small children as well as how to improve safety for the elderly. I don't feel I have to 'sell' the house, that's your job!
The impression I want to leave is that I did my very best, and my client knows everything he needs to know about his new home!
Michael - Good ideas, are you trying to help your competition? Just kidding. I know that buyers are sometimes looking for a reason to walk away from houses, and realtors hate it when inspectors give it to them. Buyers are worried that they may lose a dollar, and they forget what the upside potential is.
Maybe it is just my imagination but the tone of comments on this blog seem so much different from the tone on this blog about the advantages of hiring a "deal killer inspector." The points of view on how an inspector should "behave" on an inspection is very wide. It is almost like if the deal closes the inspector is good and if it doesn't he is bad. I think what we are really talking about is the inspector's "bed-side manner." (and they sure doesn't want to be in bed with his/her Realtor:) Doesn't it all come down to money? I personally don't know any inspectors that "deliberately" want to ruin anyone's day, but I do think that there are a lot of inspectors that don't have what it takes to "communicate" their findings. Period. It has nothing to do with communicating those findings poorly or negatively----they don't know how to do it at all. Any discussion about a defect in a home that doesn't carry with it some explanation as to what to do about it and whether it is a problem of huge economic impact or not is not very useful to the buyer. And yet----this goes beyond most inspector's Standards of Practice. And we wonder why there is a disconnect between what the agent's perspective and the inspector's perspective?
I would believe to be realistic when inspecting the home pointing out the positive and negative items. It will help the home buyer make a decision as compared to only hearing the negative.
Sean Allen
Good point Charles and this is what i was referring to... Too many home inspectors 'kill the deal' because of thier bedside manner. But it does help to say something good about the house as well... Thanks for the clarification Charles...
Michael - You express what many agents think and feel. They are looking for an inspector that will do their job - find the good, the bad and the ugly. So often we run across an inspector that is so proud of all the negatives and the buyer is left wondering what attracted them to the home in the first place.
I could hug you. Perfect Michael! I can't tell you how many times a home buyer wants to hear the good, along with the "needs attention". It makes them feel proud of their choice, and pride can be everything.