Another way for inspectors to profit on selling their customer’s information. It really is getting ridiculous.
This just sounds like a legal hassle.
I just see people calling and asking for copies of a report from 10 years ago.
And people some how getting reports from 4 years ago and then trying to sue because the house is now in a completely different condition.
Or just calling, asking to speak to the inspector to see if I (or whomever on my team) remembers being there years ago (and no, I don’t), rather than booking a new inspection.
I don’t see the benefit to the inspector.
Thanks for the comment. The model is to create a warm lead for the buyer leading to the professional that has had prior experience with it. Afterall, you know the property better. There is no intention of selling old reports. Failing the warm lead contact, the system will ping a local member. We take it one step further to help business for everyone. If No property match, buyers get contacts of inspectors in the area. Once they make an offer on it, on closing, the realtor pays for the inspection. So it is a win win for everyone.
There is a reason why inspection notes/pictures are taken and reports are written. Even with all the documentation I create for an inspection I certainly do not have the time to remember all aspects of an inspection at a later date without intense review of all past documentation which I have no intention of doing. It does not pay to do that anyhow as my inspection on that day are conditions there at that time and a week later lots can change. A new day an entire new inspection and I certainly will not get into it with a potential second client about “discounts” because I already inspected the house and it should take lots lets time (yes I have had that tried on me) or wanting to just buy a copy of the previous report.
Then just list inspectors previously associated with the property, no need for an old report, right?
Often homes are repaired immediately following an inspection. Will the repairs be represented? How could we know this?
If I’m a seller, I’d resent the hell out of an old report/inspector representing my home.
Hi Emmanuel. thanks for the comment. Take note. It is a warm specific lead generating machine. If there is an exact property match, The buyer pays you, via, the site $ 15.95. You engage in talks. Possibly get rehired, The discount is simply $ 19.95, if they rehire you. Of course, everyone wants the prior report, failing that, you are best qualified to do a New updated report. Not to mention, if the match is not made, the buyers agent/member, will pay for a new inspection based on the local members in the area. Area inspectors and agents are pinged. Agents and Inspectors have nothing to loose. Currently, claiming addresses is free. Best to claim your past addresses and make money from your prior business. Continued success.
Hi Brian: Correct. No need to provide the old report. Simply a warm inquiry which leads to new business on the inquired home or you can offer your services for another. Your prior business inspections are not revealed. The system soley searches on exact address and or local professionals. Continued success.
This site is worthless unless inspectors sign up and claim the address. An unscrupulous inspector will sign up for every property. Claim they can’t discuss it (legally they can’t) when called and offer a discount to be hired. Who is going to be able to disprove it?
hi Jeff: Providing prior reports is not the aim here. It is to provide contacts of those that have previously inspected it, as the buyer has more confidence with a 3rd party. Buyers can now target the address on InspectionTree.com and not having to rely on the current agent representing the seller. Over 300 views are made on properties that are for sale. Here is hoping this helps. Continued success.
hi Ian:
No legal hassle. You do not report on the property on the phone. Think of it as lead generating machine. Quite simply : Hi Mr. buyer, thanks for the call. Yes we have inspected it before and although we cannot disclose the current state of the property, however we would be happy to provide you with a full inspection or pre-listing report made especially for you.. Or - If not an exact property match buy area, based on zip code or city: Hi Mr. Buyer, Yes we know the area, and we would be happy to help you on providing a new report or possibly help you inspect another.
hi Brian: We try to facilitate honest business relations. After paying for the contacts, if the buyer feels 100 % certian, that the inspector is lying, they raise a ticket, followed up by the admin of the site. If the inspector cannot provide proof of the inspection, and the previous buyers agent cannot verify the inspector having done for it ( we do have records back upto 15 yrs ) the inspector does not get paid for that property. If that happens 3 x the inspector is banned from the site. Honesty is the best policy. We continue to welcome questions and comments.
You have to be caught lying three times before you get kicked off? Bruno? You set a high bar for ethics.
So you have no part in this? The buyer pays up, and your conscience is clear unless they complain. And the customer patrols the system to keep it honest.
What keeps you honest? The lead-generation service industry is plagued by bad ethics. You want sign-ups; you want clicks. Why would you care if an inspector or Realtor is lying? You don’t. Quick refund when a customer complains and move on. (if the customer complains)
Funny thing: the inspector is not allowed to discuss the property. Now what? He is a liar? Why would you care?
IMO, this isn’t true service to the consumer. It is a reach into someone’s wallet for $20 ($4 to you?), masquerading as a consumer service.
Brian, great to hear your thoughts. My part is marketing and building the site and to provide the best service possible with honesty. Yes the buyer pays up Only when matched. If no exact match, buyer gets Free contacts of those in the area. They call inspectors. Enroll and choose your area. Its free. Inspectors get FREE leads for area searches. Inspectors can do as they please when the call comes in. The goal is to be the goto site matching prior inspectors and agents to interested parties. We ask for the highest ethics from everyone which ensures confidence in the market place. Again. No exact match. No Fee for anyone. Inspector gets free leads. But If exact match is made, we ask for the highest level of professionalism otherwise, if complaints occur, so will banning from the site. No charge to the buyer. We just cannot make it any easier. Wishing you well.
Continued success.
We are also working with insurance companies, making it a one stop shop, that can provide insurance claims made on properties. We ask for the highest standards from all members joining the site. If dishonesty occurs more frequently, banning will be dealt with on an individual basis. Collectively, we all strive for the best. thanks again.
Absolute total BS
It’s no one’s business who has/has not been there
So the Inspector gets paid $15.95 for saying “Hello, bugger off I have no interest in inspecting this home!”?
What do you think the prospective buyer will want to talk about? Well the condition of the home naturally! Why would anyone want to pay money, regardless of how little it is, without receiving something of value in return? As a prospective buyer I would most certainly want to talk about what the Inspector found the last time regardless if they tell me specifics or a general, overall assessment. Of course as an Inspector I am bound by confidentiality laws and would not even be allowed to discuss the home without an actual, signed client.
The Inspector who last inspected is not necessarily the “best qualified to do a New updated report”. Also you seem to fixate on “updated report”. Like many Inspectors out there even if I had previously inspected a home I treat EVERY home as never having been there before. To do otherwise leads to very bad assumptions and shortcuts in an inspection which is not only bad for the client but can be a very big and expensive liability for the Inspector!
Did you mean the contents of a prior report are not revealed? Otherwise the whole purpose of this service is to connect the “Last man in” to the house.
You would need to educate me on this statement. What intelligent buyer, or any buyer, relies on the seller’s Agent for anything??
If my State confidentiality laws prevent me from discussing anything about a home I inspect to anyone else without that client’s express permission then what makes you think I would discuss anything with your concern?
What “records” do you have that span 15 years and list the Inspectors who have inspected that home? Except for California (possibly one or two other States) the inspection report does not follow the home and instead follows the original client who contracted for it. I know of no sane listing Agent that would voluntarily upload an inspection report for a home in the MLS or any other similar system. Why would a seller want a potentially damaging report made available in the future?
I suspect that you would return the buyer’s money if they made a claim the Inspector is lying? However if I have a State confidentiality law how can I refute a buyer who makes the claim just to get their money back from you (see above)??
As Bert pointed out an inferred your bar for ethics isn’t set at a proper level.
Asking and getting are two different things! If you are expecting all involved parties, including buyers, to be ethical 100% of the time then you should take some lessons in basic human behavior.
And with that, I think you just lost every inspector on this website. We don’t share information with Insurance companies.