According to This Real Estate Salesman...

[James H. Bushart]

...it is up to him whether or not you stay in business.

You had better tow the line, says he, to his Canadian inspectors.

Originally Posted by Blog_from_Acid_Rain

Re-blogged by 0 agents




The Rogue Home Inspector

The Rogue Home Inspector

By Brian Madigan LL.B.

Most Home Inspectors are quite legitimate. They are professionals who take their business seriously and conduct their business affairs in accordance with sound ethical practices.

Then, there are the rogue inspectors! Who are they? These people are "hired guns", they are "rogues" in the sense that there reports are "for sale". They act for purchasers and it is their role to find something wrong with the property. Anything! It doesn't really matter all that much. But, they will total up the potential repair bills and provide ammunition to a purchaser.

Let me first deal with the gold standard. Here you will find Carson Dunlop and others like them. They are truly professionals and provide independent opinions to vendors and purchasers alike. Their reports are fair and reasonable and meet all the appropriate standards of care.

Vendors will secure a report from Carson Dunlop when they believe that they might receive multiple offers for their home. A Carson Dunlop report will be provided to all the prospective purchasers, and then none need to include a home inspection condition in their bids.

But, what about the rogue inspector? These people are usually part-timers. They don't maintain offices. They operate out of their cars and have a laptop computer. They seem to do a lot of work for the same real estate agents.

So, here's how it works. The purchaser secures the property at a negotiated price subject to a home inspection condition. The inspector is always unavailable until the day before the condition is due to expire. Then, the inspector hurries through the home and prepares a report which is again at the very last moment. Whatever the price, and whatever the negotiated terms may be, a predetermined estimate of the potential reduction in the purchase price is made. And, that's just what the report will say!

Naturally, if it's too much, then it completely lacks credibility, so this report is a "measured response". How much less do you think that the vendors will accept, now that their property has been sold, and effectively off the market for a week, $5,000, $10,000, $15,000? Well, that's the precise amount you are going to find in the rogue inspector's report.

Now, armed with this information, the purchaser's agent will seek to re-negotiate the purchase price.

Rogue inspectors don't last long in the business. Their reputation precedes them. Vendors' agents will refuse to permit them to do inspections. They will have to move and order new business cards. Unfortunately, in a large metropolitan area, they don't have to move too far.

Presently, the home inspection business is not a regulated industry. There are voluntary associations, but that's not entirely satisfactory to the consumer.

So, my advice: go to a reputable, qualified, professional, ethical inspector who will provide sound advice whether you are buying or selling. By the way, if you have to go to Court, their reports will be the gold standard.

Brian Madigan LL.B., Broker is an author and commentator on real estate matters, if you are interested in residential or commercial properties in Mississauga, Toronto or the GTA, you may contact him through Royal LePage Innovators Realty, Brokerage 905-796-8888
www.OntarioRealEstateSource.com

What are your thoughts?

[Dan Bowers, CMI]

I was given several of Carson & Dunlops "Pre-Listing Inspection" summary reports. I gotta admit they were real purty. They were designed to sell the house .......... I guess what I'm saying is as a home inspection report to ME / they were REAL weak OR very generic.

I took one of theirs / Put my company name & a local street address for their house on it where theirs was AND left everything else the same to show you their summary. I had 4-6 of them EVEN on 75 year old houses / SUMMARY always 2 page sales sheet / NON-ALARMIST. Reports the same way.

Check it out .......

[Eric W. Augustin]

I like the part about how to spot a Rogue Inspector, "They use laptop computers...", ooops, I didn't realize I was rogue.

[James H. Bushart]

In my opinion, this article speaks volumes about the attitudes of many who sell houses.

Simply consider the word "rogue"...defined as "Operating outside normal or desirable controls".

A "rogue" home inspector, in the mind of this salesman, is one who is operating outside of his control.

Isn't that what we ALL should be doing if we are to be of value to a home buyer who is hiring us to provide him with a complete, accurate and unbiased description of the house that a salesman is wanting him to buy?

More importantly...what does it say about the names that are on the list that this salesman provides to home buyers?

As for me, I am the ultimate rogue inspector and I market myself, accordingly. It is an important part of my marketing plan to make it perfectly clear to any potential client that my name will NOT appear on any salesman's list of "preferred" inspectors.

This salesman's harmful preferences....and those who he represents....is the reason why.

[Gary Farnsworth]

It is sad for our industry that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of used home commissioned sales people that are "side-stepping" their own rules and regulations, all in the name of making commissions. I bet there are more that are not abiding by, or relying on, the laws and rules passed in most every state that make "their industry" better, and safer for the home buyers.

They push for home inspection laws. They complain about appraisers. They complain to lenders and banks. And then they all write blogs and articles to put professions down, just so they can keep controlling them.

We are the last in the chain that keep all in the RE transaction honest, and properly inform home buyers of what they are getting into; and yet, people try to keep us in control.

Just three years ago, I spent zero money every year to be "compliant". Now, I spend hundreds every year, spend hours of time, to be able to perform home inspections. Association fees, radon law fees, termite certifications, insurance requirements, educational courses, etc. etc. And the RE complaints just keep coming.

Frustrated in KC.

[Marc-Andre Beauchemin]

James,

I commend you for trying to improve the home inspection business situation in your area.

Marc-Andre

[Dan Bowers, CMI]

Jim -

I must be reading youse post wrong when you say you're not on the real estate agent lists.

Gosh 2 years ago in Kansas & Missouri all I heard at legislative meetings was who was Jim Bushart; did we know Jim Bushart; etc. AND seem to remember hearing how that Jim Bushart's name was on quite a few of the realtors lists of SOMEKIND.

You seem to be REAL well known in real estate circles AND on lots of their lists.

You Dog You ..........

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by dbowers

Jim -

I must be reading youse post wrong when you say you're not on the real estate agent lists.

Gosh 2 years ago in Kansas & Missouri all I heard at legislative meetings was who was Jim Bushart; did we know Jim Bushart; etc. AND seem to remember hearing how that Jim Bushart's name was on quite a few of the realtors lists of SOMEKIND.

You seem to be REAL well known in real estate circles AND on lots of their lists.

You Dog You ..........

Woof.

[James H. Bushart]

Join the fun...before this idiot winds up deleting his entire article. He is a moron.

[Joseph Hagarty, CMI]

He is uninformed....

[Gary Farnsworth]

Perhaps he is just marketing.

I myself are one of these rogue inspectors, who perform inspections way above Kansas SOP's. As I have stated countless times, here in Kansas a licensed inspector does not have to check any appliance, or how those appliances are connected. They only have to check one outlet, one window, one door, one wall per room. You do not have to remove any panel of any kind.

Seems to me that is what this guy wants, and is doing it. He only wants to do basic reports, and does not want to "go rogue". Sorry for his clients.

[James H. Bushart]

Will Decker...that was an outstanding post you made to that thread.

[William J. Decker]

Originally Posted by jbushart

Will Decker...that was an outstanding post you made to that thread.

Thank you, Jim. Just stating the facts.

I get pretty upset by agents who think that, just because they have the NAR, they have ANY type of authority or control over HIs.

[James H. Bushart]

...and those of us not under their control are "rogues".

[Gary Farnsworth]

Perhaps it is the NAR itself, whom should start going "rogue". They should police their own, and stand up for the home buyers, and promote themselves for the association that they should be. Thanks Will.