I received a call from a contractor requesting a home inspection for a 5,725 SqFt home in Hollywood, CA that is currently listed for sale. My question is, can I inspect this home if it is NOT under contract? If so, is there a disclosure that the seller would need to sign allowing this? Please advise.
I am not a lawyer and have never played one on TV. But my first question would be, How am I going to access the home? If the seller let’s me in, then there is consent. Otherwise, further due diligence may be needed. Written permission may not be a bad idea. A simple email would satisfy me, but I live in the edge 
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Try contacting the listing agent.
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The contractor is accessing the home through a buyer’s agent. I am torn because I would want a home inspected prior to submitting an offer on a $2.6 million dollar home, yet at the same time, if the home is not under contract, do you really have a right to have the home inspected?
You can inspect anything if you get paid and the owner allows you access.
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seller consent
seller consent
seller consent
No reason to care about any other elements of the transaction.
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Consider it a pre-listing inspection.
Get paid at or before the inspection.
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Yes if you get authorization from the sellers or sellers representative(agent). Get a confirmation in writing, text or through a scheduling app like ShowingTime.
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Thank you everyone for the feedback. I referred back to my inspection agreement, section 1.
1. Permission to Enter Property: The CLIENT is responsible for ensuring that the INSPECTOR has permission to enter the Inspected Property to perform
the home inspection on the date scheduled. The INSPECTOR is not responsible for any disruption in the inspection process caused by construction,
renovations, painting, cleaning, or any other activity occurring at the Inspected Property at the time of the inspection.
I informed the contractor that I will need the seller, or seller’s agent’s written consent allowing the inspection prior to performing the inspection.
It seems kind of obvious
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A lot of scams start this way… the listing agent is the first person I go to whenever I’m suspicious.
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Trenton,
Here are the premises of this situation;
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Who is hiring you? = Who will pay you? You must establish this critical aspect.
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What is this person’s or entity’s interested in this dwelling/property?
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I hear, “A Contractor”, right? Why/What is this contractor’s interest in learn about the condition of this property? Is he/she planning to place an offer to buy it if the outcome of the inspection report is favorable to his/her investment plans?
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In any circumstance, he, who does not own the property at the time of the inspection request to you, has to/must obtain a written authorization from the current owner in title.
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In such written authorization, look a like ‘contract’ or ‘agreement’ between two parties, he/she should mention that he/she (“the contractor”) will have the property inspected by a licensed home inspector and must specify the time frame for the inspection to take place.
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At last, like in any regular real estate transaction, the hiring party (your client) should/must coordinate with the owner/seller the precise time and date that you will be arriving at the property and the duration of your stay inside the subject property.
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You should document in your report the time of arrival and departure as well. And take lots of pictures to support any questionable aspect of the property that you may consider appropriate to protect your liabilities.
and 8. Make sure You have a written contract fully accepted by the contractor/client, with a short, but specific clause making reference to whom will coordinate the access to the property, date and time. And at last, as usual, ask this ‘contractor/client’ to accompany you during the 3+ hours of the inspection.
Other than that, you are fine…!
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In my area, that’s typical. The seller is either the client, or has given permission. Very few houses here sell without a pre-listing inspection (it’s part of the disclosure package). In leaner times, there might be 3-4 inspections all prior to the close of bid acceptance.
When you say “A Contractor” is this The Contractor (General) that built the home? Is this a New Home?
Or is this a potential buyer that just happens to be a contactor.
I would kind of worry if it is not under contract that you may be getting one of these scams that go around from time to time…maybe will send you a check for more than the inspection and you then give his “caretaker” $$$…Is the “Contractor” maybe in the hospital and can’t meet you?..You are right to be concerned, if something don’t smell right…the deal probably stinks.
There are variations of the scam. I had one a few months back very similar so did some checking after something did not add up…contacted the listing agent and found out, yes a scam.
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I have never asked a client whether they have a contract. That has nothing to do with an inspection. It is none of my concern. I either have permission to inspect the place or I don’t.
Why do you think the size of the house is relevant?
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Maybe a prelisting inspection with al the norm. paper work would work???
The important thing is that the HOME INSPECTION is under contract!
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