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This is not the norm in most areas, unless the buyer is willing to pay for the extra time.
Really? The guy I went with was on the higher end of the scale price wise, but if that's the case I consider the extra $$ well spent. I got a very thorough report and it gave me a lot of confidence in making the decision whether or not to buy the house after seeing all its warts.
Sorry if I wasn't clear in my first post. I'm the BUYER. The Inspector knew clearly that I was the buyer. His credentials are as follows per his web site:
-13 years Owner of complete home renovation and repair company. All phases of home construction and repair
- 11 Year Member -American Society of Home Inspectors® - Over 200 hrs Continuing Education -ASHI® - - 7000+ homes inspected, over 200 light commercial inspections.
-Board of Directors Great Lakes Chapter -ASHI® -GLC Peer Review
-Education Chair ASHI-GLC 2001-2005
Again, I'm not trying to take anything away from him. He seemed like a super great guy, very knowledgeable and willing to work. It just simply stuck me as odd that he doesn't want the buyer present during any phase of the inspection.I wanted a second opinion and thus my post.
Really? The guy I went with was on the higher end of the scale price wise, but if that's the case I consider the extra $$ well spent. I got a very thorough report and it gave me a lot of confidence in making the decision whether or not to buy the house after seeing all its warts.
Glad it worked out for you.
Returning to the house a second time to spend a few more hours reviewing the situation with the buyer, is not the norm.
Sounds like his fee compensated him for his time.
I think most sellers would not appreciate and likely protest having to vacate their home a second time, to accommodate a post inspection review.
Again, I'm not trying to take anything away from him. He seemed like a super great guy, very knowledgeable and willing to work. It just simply stuck me as odd that he doesn't want the buyer present during any phase of the inspection.I wanted a second opinion and thus my post.
He is making his boundary clear. He is in the business of inspecting homes, not educating buyers how to best maintain those homes. I see potential trends towards this with long time members of this trade association.
The requirements for home inspection licensing are very lax in my state. As a result, it attracted many new people to the business. Most consumers assume all inspectors are the same and use this to rationalize hiring the cheapest inspector. Over time, this has brought down the cost of a home inspection, in my area, by about 25%.
One can get a seasoned inspector, with thousands of inspections under the belt, for the same price as one newly licensed. My sense of this trade association is that they are encouraging members to create boundaries for themselves and their businesses. They are often the elite inspectors with serious experience and deserve to be paid more for their experience.
When you think about it, if they are also educating the buyer how to best maintain the home, is there a reason why they should not be compensated for their incremental time?
Glad it worked out for you.
Returning to the house a second time to spend a few more hours reviewing the situation with the buyer, is not the norm.
Sounds like his fee compensated him for his time.
I think most sellers would not appreciate and likely protest having to vacate their home a second time, to accommodate a post inspection review.
Was this a vacant home or perhaps a new build?
Sorry, didn't make it clear. I met him at the house on the same day, he called me as he was writing the report up, and we went over the results together when I arrived. Altogether I think he was in the house about four hours, I was present during the last two hours. I was his last job for the day and he wasn't in a rush. The house was vacant so I guess that would make a difference wouldn't it?
So if an inspector wouldn't want a buyer present during the inspection what do they normally do, just mail the results? Go back to an office and review it together?
I don't think I would have been comfortable with an inspection if I couldn't be present to actually see what the inspector was referring to in the report. Pictures and descriptions don't convey quite the same sense of a situation as seeing it in person IMO.
Sorry, didn't make it clear. I met him at the house on the same day, he called me as he was writing the report up, and we went over the results together when I arrived. Altogether I think he was in the house about four hours, I was present during the last two hours. I was his last job for the day and he wasn't in a rush. The house was vacant so I guess that would make a difference wouldn't it?
So if an inspector wouldn't want a buyer present during the inspection what do they normally do, just mail the results? Go back to an office and review it together?
I don't think I would have been comfortable with an inspection if I couldn't be present to actually see what the inspector was referring to in the report. Pictures and descriptions don't convey quite the same sense of a situation as seeing it in person IMO.
I think we are on the same page, now.
It's not uncommon for home inspection companies to tout how many collective home inspections they have performed. Some of these companies then refer out to an independent contractor who may or may not have a lot of experience.
In the OP's case, this home inspector brings experience to the table. I am speculating that to be competitive, this inspector cannot afford to inspect and educate for the same price.
It may come down to an inspector with insignificant experience being willing to do more for the fee than a more experienced inspector.
If it were me, I would pay more to get more experience and an education.
As a business owner, the inspector can choose how to run his business - and if his business model is to NOT have buyers present then so be it.
If he's successful, more power to him - and I don't begrudge him for running his business this way. (Some people are excellent inspectors and poor teachers and don't have the patience for question askers.)
BUT ... if I'm hiring an inspector, I really don't care if I'm present - because I trust my inspector and this isn't my first rodeo. On the flip side, I'd also advise first time home buyers of mine to be at the entire inspection because it is a great learning experience.
His choice to run his business the way he sees fit.
I personally wouldn't hire an inspector that didn't want buyers present. I think a huge part of the process is seeing the defects.
My buyers had a home inspection last year on a house. When the home inspector took off the electrical panel it arched. Seriously, nice electrical arc. There would have been no photos of that. I think telling someone in home inspector jargon that the electrical panel has problems and SEEING those problems in action are totally different. I want my clients to see drips, etc all in real time.
It's their money. They need to be totally involved in the home inspection to feel comfortable about purchasing it.
While I agree it would be best for the buyer to attend the complete inspection if they have time, I don't see a real problem with the buyer attending when the inspector is wrapping up and then walking through all the issues found. The only case where I can see the buyer not attending at all is if they are not local and can't travel for the inspection. Then you need an inspector who writes a thorough report with photos and is available for questions.
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