Given the features of the home and it’s Slab-on-Grade configuration…
I would act as a Facilitator and (support) Inspector overseeing:
2 CMI Inspectors,
A Commercial Roofer(s),
A HVAC Technician(s),
A Residential/Commercial Electrician(s).
3 Likes
Ooops! Oh well, we all make mistakes. 
Haha! ZING!! I missed that too… 
But first - make sure they don’t have a coupon. That might come back to sting you.
5 Likes
[$65,000,000 Home, 28,000 SQFT, 9 Bedroom, 15 Bathroom -
—
Parking Spaces
—
Basement
No
Accessible
No
Lot Size
—
Style
Single Family Residential
Year Built
—
Year Renovated
—
County
Los Angeles County
APN
4362-003-043
HOA Dues
—
Garage
No
Features
Pool
Home facts updated by owner on Oct 19, 2020.
And you don’t get a garage. Wow, only in California
Well, you know David, pretty much anyone would be tempted by this and interested in finding out whether they’re able to take on a project with this kind of complexity and liability. But it’s just a home, and determining whether a gold doorknob works isn’t necessarily any more complicated than determining whether a Home Depot doorknob works. About the other systems and components… well, that’s the big question.
I wouldn’t want to discourage anyone from wanting to expanding their comfort zone as long as they’re doing their due diligence, and that’s what Ian is doing here. First, he’s asking if anyone on the boards has experience with homes in this price range. That’s a good place to start. Personally I’d be contacting anyone I know or can think of who has been connected with these ultra-expensive properties in any capacity.
Every company who performs these kinds of super high-end inspections has gotten their start somehow. If you’re Ian, you do your best to put something professional together and see if you can make your mark. If you lack courage, you listen to those telling you that you can’t do it and you shouldn’t even try. You don’t know until you try. Have the balls to try.
9 Likes
Lots of potential problems in new construction.
Lots.
Pre-purchase, or they already have the home?
Your best value to the client is inspecting during construction.
You could ask for time & materials, to cover yourself. Still though you’ll have to reserve a full day or two, even if it turns out to be a creampuff.
Just walking into each room and inserting a tester into each outlet will be a chore…
Given as it’s Beverly Hills, I’d be making a phone call to Jeff Pope!!
Hahaha ain’t that the truth
No offense Kenton but this statement is the lamest perspective that has endured the home inspection industry for decades…
Yes, everyone had to start from somewhere. But between conducting your first $250 home inspection and inspecting the Taj Mahal it takes education, experience, resources, outside professional support and a significant investment in your business. Do you happen to know the number of inspectors who annually invests $2000/year towards advanced training (not the free stuff found here)? That number is low.
My initial concern with the OP is that anyone buying a $65 million house has more financial resources to sue your ass than your insurance company (if you actually have insurance) to protect you.
Does anyone know how much it costs for Insurance on a job like this? Then how can you price the job? Does the client require to be listed as Additional Insured on your policy? Do you think the OP has a relationship with his Insurance Provider to even get this?
Education: As I review the OP’s website aside from being a home inspector, these are the continuing education certifications held. I may have missed something but all I see is free courses from NACHI. None of which cover inspecting Hollywood mansions.
Experience: OP joined NACHI May 24.
I don’t know what his previous experiences are in life but based upon everything he advertises, he is simply a self-proclaimed “Certified Professional” like everyone else does.
Also you must understand components that you are inspecting. There is a high probability that the OP couldn’t even get the front door unlocked! Not that I am chastising the OP but because I have inspected houses that I couldn’t get the front door unlocked!! Yes, you’re right. We all had to start somewhere. But…
Resources: Even with several decades of residential building inspection under our belt we still rely on the resources of professionals. Over time we collect people that we can work with who know more about a particular subject than anyone else. And I don’t consider this message board in that category. Do you have somebody you can work with who has the experience and knowledge of how to conduct inspection of this magnitude? The ability to price the project, subcontract professional services and the ability to talk the talk with someone they can afford multi-million dollar properties.
A significant investment in your business: This not only includes financial investment of your business (buying the neatest latest and greatest test equipment), but the ability to invest time to enroll in professional educational endeavors without going bankrupt from taking a few days off inspection jobs. The ability to take time off and go work with a seasoned inspector on a particular out of the ordinary inspection project at a reduced income and increased expenditure to get them there. The OPM advises infrared thermal imaging is a primary service in his inspections. Consider this advertised sample of his work with a “Seek” camera. Does that not raise the hair on your neck when it comes to the clients expectations? But he’s NACHI Certified!
I’m a Lvl III Thermographer and I’m not 'Certified" yet.
Kenton, you and I are been around the block for a long time. Of all people you should understand how this all works and that enticing inspectors to step this far outside of their comfort zone could be devastating to the inspector and his family.
What did it take for you to get where you are at? You didn’t jump in the water over your head without taking swimming lessons first. You didn’t get to teach people in all those NACHI courses you taught from just taking free courses. You didn’t write all those report narratives in your first six months of home inspecting.
If the OP contacted someone like Dale Duffy as I suggested, he would not only get paid for the job but could work next to one of the best industrial inspector in this country. You can say that this is just another house, only bigger. But that’s a lie. Working with someone else more qualified would be learning the management side of building inspection. When you take on a job like this it’s not about inspecting it’s about orchestrating an outcome satisfactory to the expectations of the client.
5 Likes
Wow David. I didn’t realize asking for guidance for a home inspection that I’d bet 99% of home inspectors would never encounter in their career would stir up such criticism and vitriol.
You think you know me or how I manage my business because you visited my website? So from your perspective because InterNACHI offers “free education” to its paying members it negates any knowledge, experience, or expertise, for doing home Inspections? Those are pretty bold claims.
And what is your reason for chiming in on this post? Just to crap on InterNACHI inspectors and the organization? Or how the organization runs its certification program? Your bio tag says your retired. Why do you even care?
Bottom line, your opinion is bullshit to me. I don’t even take offense to you trying to pick apart my experience or what I offer as a company. But shitting on thousands and thousands of people who created livelihoods and in my opinion from a great organization that has helped people also, just makes you an asshole. Thousands of people are certified through InterNACHI and I’ll bet a lot of them are better than me. But I’m the one who made this post to begin with. I’m the one who was contacted based on my reputation and work ethic. And I have enough humility to reach out for help.
You respond how ever you want. I got a project to put together…
2 Likes
I wouldn’t spect anything less, good advise, Profesor.
Really David? So you have a list of bad perspectives and you record them and compare them and rate them?
You just don’t like to be contradicted, David. And I understand why; you’ve been doing this a long time, and you’ve put a lot of time and energy into learning and feel that you’re right.
POSTING THE NEXT DAY
David has some good points here that I ignored because the way he began his post… whatever he meant, I found it offensive because I know he doesn’t have a list of bad perspectives… Well, we’ll just get past that and get to what’s important about his post…
What I took away from his post is that it’s important to have a team with the credentials to back up against whatever the opposition’s team has, and at these levels, it’s important to find out who they are and hire them.
Easy there Ian, David has been around for a long time and the reason he’s been here consistently over the years has been to help other inspectors. We’ve learned a lot from him and it’s OK to disagree with him but it’s a good idea to listen to what he has to say. He may not tell you what you want to hear but his advice comes from years of experience.
3 Likes
I do apologize for the colorful language Kenton. It’s one thing to criticize me, but I did take exception of his Cavalier and dismissive attitude towards the education and members as a whole. InterNACHI has helped me start a fulfilling business and career like I’m sure it has for thousands of others.
3 Likes
What is your insurance limits? I would consider taking an associate or two with you and have 3 names on the report and I would charge 10K
I reached out to my business insurance agent for this job. Even with a $1,000,000 Policy he said it couldn’t be covered. He literally said that he’s sure other inspectors take these jobs but never reach out to their insurance providers to ask them about coverage.
1 Like
Ian, did you ask if you could get a one time increase in coverage for an additional amount? I did on several “over $1,000,000.00 coverages” and it wasn’t that bad. I just added it to the agreement amount.
It is important to have a good ongoing relationship with your agent.
1 Like
Larry, he basically told me in so many words and as nicely as possible that they wouldn’t cover it. He told me he’s personally never seen a coverage request for something that expensive. He said that in his opinion inspectors probably wouldn’t reach out to their agent because they know they probably wouldn’t get coverage for something like that. I’m just relaying what he told me whether it’s wrong or right.
I do have a reasonably decent relationship with my agent. Haven’t had any issues with them.
1 Like
I’d take the job in a heartbeat but I’d bring in help. The largest I’ve done myself is about 8,000 sq ft. Two commercial boilers, 6 AC units: Can’t remember how many rooms, fireplaces, chimneys, bathrooms etc. Probably 20 exterior doors and over 100 windows. Maybe 6 or more 200 amp panels. It was a few years ago. It took a full, long day and I was in the attic(s) well over an hour. I charged $2400 plus $300 for radon. I used charcoal canisters to free up my CRMs.
But 1st, I’d:
Contacting my Ins broker.
Bring in a:
Another inspector (maybe), maybe just a helper.
Roofing contractor
HVAC/Plumbing contractor
Elect contractor
Pool service
and still schedule a couple days for the inspection… open ended
Mark them up 10-15% and $200 an hour for myself
This could be a real good opportunity but also a disaster without covering my arse.