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If you include a cost estimate for repairs for issues you found in your inspection, I will not use you again. If you take two days to get the written report to me and the client, I will not use you again.
Clear articulation of issues observed. I.e., written and verbal language skills.
Service orientation. Accessibility for further discussion, for me or our mutual client.
Minimal drama. Mountains are mountains. Molehills are molehills.
Photos. Lots of photos.
Thorough. Knows what to look for. That knowledge typically comes with years of experience.
Great inspector story. I have one I LOVE. Years ago, we got to a house and I noticed the enclosed back sunroom had been repainted, and we were just there a couple of days before. The inspector took a look around the exterior, then went out to the road to look in the trashcan....it was FULL of termite eaten wood and baseboards that the seller had replaced in an attempt to cover up the termite problem before the inspection...and apparently the trashman had not come as early as they hoped that day.
NOT crazy and knows how to present issues without totally freaking the buyer out. Reports the facts reasonably without sugarcoating. Doesn't bloviate.
We have one in our area that is a nutjob but declares he is the top inspector in the area. He came in one of our listings and told everyone to "run out of the house" because it could blow up....it had aluminum wiring. REALLY? There is another that can smell "toxic mold". We had another that states he will not leave the house until he finds 45 issues because EVERY house has at least 45 issues according to him. He lasted about a year here.
Easy to get in touch with for follow up questions, and will do reinspections to insure repairs have been done correctly.
Doesn't make statements beyond their expertise...will recommend or defer to a specialist when needed (ie structural, HVAC, roof, etc).
Clear, concise report with pictures and detailed descriptions of the property. Can prepare and send report within a 24 hour period.
Educates the buyer on things that could "improve" the property that are not necessarily "problems".
Level of trust....if I recommend you, I have to trust that my client's interests are in the best most knowledgeable hands possible.
I don't expect inspectors to do cost estimates but sometimes will ask how much they think a repair will likely run. One is very good at giving us good "ballparks" as he came out of the building industry and he has a lot of experience, so he's seen just about everything.
I know most think Realtors like to use the "easy" ones to "get the deal done"....but I prefer the toughest one I can get. We have ONE really excellent one in my area and then 2-3 more that are "good"....but they are not near the level of expertise that he is.
Last edited by LCTMadison; 03-18-2015 at 05:15 AM..
There are two kinds of inspectors: Deal makers and deal breakers. The deal makers are thorough but fair — they let my buyers know what things should truly concern them and what things are just part of normal wear and tear on a previously owned house. If there are major issues they tell them they're major, but if they're minor they say just that. Deal breakers consider every issue to be major and look for petty, minor things to justify their inspection fee. They also put things in their reports like, "Less than half of their useful life remaining on the shingles," rather than, "These 25-year shingles were installed 13 years ago and are wearing normally." A buyer once got a note in an inspection report saying that, "The typical life of this type of water heater is 10 years, and this one is already 4 years old." I have a one-strike policy with inspectors if they don't turn their report around within 24 hours. And it better include photos.
Buyers picked the inspector because he was highly rated on Angieslist.
He lied about lack of accessibility under the house. (So he wouldn't have to get dirty?)
But, worst of all, he gave the buyer a sales pitch on how great the house was, all the time glancing at me as if to see if he was scoring points with me.
Inspectors ask for the lockbox code to enter the house, even when they know they are not allowed to have it.
Huge integrity issue, and they make my blacklist, regardless of how they rate on the listserv or Angieslist.
The worst inspector in our area is one that is highly rated on Angie's List, but its pretty well known he's had agents go on there to recommend him and there is also some kickbacks going on the side... It costs $3 to go on Angie's List and make recommendations. I don't hold that site in high regard.
I will very rarely deter a buyer from using a particular inspector, but when that name comes up I always urge them to make another selection. May not be the smartest thing to do as I know we need to limit our liability, but he is just downright terrible and dishonest. I still have to look out for their best interest.
Good qualities... knowledgeable, good communicator. Can put clients at ease if a problem is minor, or give them ideas of possible solutions if problems are bigger. Welcomes questions from realtors and clients and returns calls/emails promptly. A very nice, thorough, detailed report explaining the systems of the home provided within 24 hours of the inspection; we don't have time to mess around waiting for this report to come in. Good luck to you!
The worst inspector in our area is one that is highly rated on Angie's List, but its pretty well known he's had agents go on there to recommend him and there is also some kickbacks going on the side... It costs $3 to go on Angie's List and make recommendations. I don't hold that site in high regard.
I will very rarely deter a buyer from using a particular inspector, but when that name comes up I always urge them to make another selection. May not be the smartest thing to do as I know we need to limit our liability, but he is just downright terrible and dishonest. I still have to look out for their best interest.
It certainly IS smart to help protect your client. You owe the client more than you do any inspector.
I would offer a list of inspectors and strongly recommend that the client use someone from the list rather than a dishonest incompetent.
I think you get on thin ice if you say, "My guy is better than Your guy," without offering a list.
I always give three names, but then I always have those clients that have that "friend" who used "so in so" and they've just GOT to go with them and ignore my recommendations.
But if that name comes up I really do discourage going that route. If you as a licensed inspector seriously think a house is going to EXPLODE during the inspection because of aluminum wiring that has been there for years and years and years....you are nuts! And I didn't realize any human sniffer could identify toxic mold Not just "smells moldy"...TOXIC mold!
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It costs $3 to go on Angie's List and make recommendations. I don't hold that site in high regard.
