Research & Writing Assignment:
When performing a home inspection and during the course of the inspection if something happens to get broken, then it can be viewed as a happy accident. That is to say that it’s a good thing the inspector found the default in whatever equipment was assumed to receive regular maintenance. Better then Inspector finding the issue than putting a client in potential danger.
Research & Writing Assignment:
I recently had a realtor that requested me to do an inspection on a home that was for sale and under contract. While researching the property, I found out the property was owned by another realtor. The buyer agent kept saying to me, it is an easy home. He also kept saying, he needed someone that would not be alarming and just quickly go through it. I took the inspection and scheduled it and meet with the client. As I was doing the inspection, even though the agent kept trying to rush me and tried to get me to ignore things I kept on writing everything up. At the end of the inspection, the realtor was not too happy with me, but the client was. There was a few things that needed the sellers attention and the realtor was hoping I would not notice due too his request of rushing and trying to interrupt me during the inspection.
Research & Writing Assignment:
When you are marketing yourself or introducing yourself to realtors, you should always make sure you never use the word expert. As a home inspector that wants to remain in business, words are very important. As you explain what you will do, you need to make sure the client understands you are a generalist that will use there abilities to visually look at all the areas that are on the visual inspection agreement and write up a report about defects found. And not try to explain what is going on and how this or that happened or is happening.
Research & Writing Assignment:
If the house seller ask you to take it easy on the roofs condition, that is a red flag. You are working for the client that hired you and you have an obligation to follow the standards of practice and the code of conduct for an InterNACHI inspector.
Research & Writing Assignment:
I showed up at the home of a gentleman wanting to sell his home without having to put out a lot of money to fix it up. The owner knows that the roof is near the end of life and in need of repairs, but wants me to go easy on the condition and report sometime different than what I find.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Log homes have some characteristics that are very different from conventional homes, and its crucial for home inspectors to understand them. Settling of a log home usually occurs when the moisture content of a log is high when installed and over time the logs dry out. When the logs dry out it causes a lot of problems such as the stairs and windows to buckle.
Research & Writing Assignment:
This essay addresses the topic The Dangers of calling yourself an Expert.
By claiming yourself an expert you are putting yourself in a position where you have no excuse or safety system for you to fall back onto when and if you miss something. We are all humans in the industry and this can happen to any home inspector. So the best practice is to leave the word expert out of your marketing or advertising. Instead, use the words experienced, or knowledgeable.
Research & Writing Assignment:
When doing an inspection it can be beneficial to have a “caution” stop sign with you. Placing the sign on your ladder when you are on a roof (or anywhere that may be a hazard) shows that you care for the safety of others. Clients would usually appreciate the gesture and will most likely keep them away from doing something dangerous. Legally speaking, it can also serve as proof that you took action to prevent a stubborn client’s injury.
Research & Writing Assignment:
I would inform the seller that I work in a legal, ethical manner when asked to go easy on the roof. I would explain that I am an InterNACHI member and abide by the Code of Ethics and follow the InterNACHI Standards of Practice.
Research & Writing Assignment:
A client offered tickets to a sporting event to ignore a leaking valve under their kitchen sink. I stated to the client that I cannot accept the offer and I am required to perform the inspection to the InterNACHI code of ethics and standards of practice and by not doing so will make the inspection not valid.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Lawsuits in this industry do happen. A few things to do to avoid the risk for a lawsuit may include joining InterNACHI and forming an LLC business. It is also important to take all the courses offered and become an certified master inspector to reduce the chances of a lawsuit. Remember not to every refer to yourself as an expert and always include a pre-inspection agreement before preforming any inspections.
Research & Writing Assignment:
If the customer is eager to sell their house and has told you multiple times how they need to have a perfect home inspection. You then proceed to come across multiple costly structural issues. At this point you either do the right thing and detail the issues in your report or proceed to be the villain and lie.
Research & Writing Assignment:
What stood out most to me about the article what the section on turning away particularly difficult customers. This made complete sense to me once i took a minute to think about it. The potential extra time, stress, and possible complaints when it comes to unreasonable customers is not worth my time.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Sellers want home inspectors to overlook “simple” things. Your client is paying you a fee to look over a huge purchase they plan to make. By not performing to the SOP, your going against the Code of ethics. You have a duty to the public.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Continuing education allows you to strive in this industry. You can limit yourself to home inspections but reaching for other certifications and being knowledgeable about what your looking at shows you and the client you mean business and about your services.
Research & Writing Assignment:
When asked to write an essay about a hypothetical situation in which a home inspector would be asked to “overlook” some things about a property several thoughts ran through my mind as to what I would do. Personally I prefer a straight forward approach to dealing with these things. First I would inform them that it would be out of character and against the code of ethics that I abide by for me to do such things. Secondly I would go on to explain how they would feel cheated if they were on the other end of a dishonest arrangement such as this. Lastly one could make a broader statement about how if we all treated each other with respect and honesty this world would be in a much better place. In conclusion truth and honesty is the best way to go even if it might cost you a few bucks.
Research & Writing Assignment:
If in the situation where a seller or agent requests the inspector “hurry up” with his or her inspection, one might say that the standard inspection takes a certain amount of time and can not be properly completed if not given the proper time frame to do so.
Research & Writing Assignment:
For this task I read an article titled Home Inspector Ethics: Why Not Pay To Be On Broker’s List. In this article the question was asked " why not pay to be on a list" and some great legal points were brought up concerning liability and failure to use good judgement which we wont go into further because I am not a lawyer. However the aspects of tainted reputation as far as the public is concerned is a valid and serious matter. If the public views someone as dishonest it will not take long before that person or company suffers the cost. Having a background in construction I have seen this first hand happen to less than honest contractors. As a carpenter I stand behind my products, as a home inspector my product is integrity.
Research & Writing Assignment:
To avoid lawsuits it is important during the course of an inspection to take several pictures of the water meter (before,during,end) to prove the inspector was thorough in his or her analysis of the home and that no water leaks other than the ones disclosed existed at the time of the inspection.
Research & Writing Assignment:
While executing residential inspection in basement/crawlspace, bowing vertical and horizontal cracks and signs of past water intrusion are discovered on a cinder block foundation wall.
Inspector determines structural integrity is compromised, with active risk of flooding, detrimental settling and/or collapse.
In discussing with the home buyer, the seller asks for the issue to be under-reported since he bought the home this way. The inspector calmly explains while he understands what the seller is saying, his legal requirement to report all findings in clear and measured detail, mandates he report the issue and unfortunately he can not waiver in this or any case.
Buyer understands the inspector does not have the ability to do anything but report on the house’s true and actual condition and appreciates the inspector’s commitment to integrity.