Difficult inspection(s) #2

[David C. Macy]

On my inspection today.

The client arrives at the schueduled time. States that she needs to go to the bank to get $$.

Wouldnt you think of doing that ahead of time?

Brings her 2 year old.

Pays no attention to inspection and the kid is running wild.

Maybe I will offer day care or baby sitting services.

Please leave the kids with someone for a couple hours.

She wanted to make sure the inspection is done fast so to make a doctors appointment.

House needs: New/Driveway/furnace/Air/Electrical and more.

Thanks

Dave

[rwand1]

I hate parents who let their kids run wild. They haven't got a clue about discipline. I was at inspection some time ago and the two little brats were told repeatedly not to play the piano, not to sit on the white couch, not to do this and that. Do you think the kids listened? No. Do you think one of the parents would back up their orders with a smack? No.

Both parents were with me in the basement. The two brats where upstairs alone, when we all heard a very loud crash. One of the brats tripped over the lamp cord and the floor lamp (one of a kind) fell over and broke. The other kid wet his pants and sat on the white couch. Parents bought a new lamp at $400. The realtor and me were not amused.

I love parents who think their little Johnny or Alice are cute and can do no wrong. Makes me think the parents need the smack and not the kids.

[George A. H. Luck]

No, George ( the other one) was quite clear on that. People just weren't listening.

[Russel Ray]

We did an inspection back in November 2003 where the parents brought their three kids along. Halfway through the inspection, we noticed the kids running around the house but parents nowhere to be found. Parents big SUV was gone. We asked the oldest kid where his parents were. "Oh, they went Christmas shopping. They told us to stay here and play." Huh? In someone else's furnished house? You've got to be kidding me. And leaving them with two total strangers that they had met for the first time only 30 minutes ago. My gawd, folks, I'm gay, so most religious political extremist fundamentalist fanatics consider me a pervert and pedophile. And these parents left their three young boys (5, 6, 9) in the care of my tender arms? Help! Where has our society gone?

We did our best at babysitting, and I guess the kids had fun with us because there was a $100 check from the parents waiting for us at the Realtor's office the next day when we delivered the report. Along with the check was a little note thanking us for taking care of the kids and telling us that the kid did, indeed, have a good time with us.

[tneumann]

I hope just by interracting with you they didn't "turn gay"....



Triple wink just in case that comment gets misconstrued.....it was a friggin joke people....parodizing all the christian right wing fundamentalist freak shows (That is also a joke, meaning not all christians are like this, only the ones w/ all 5 of those qualities in bold)...who say that if you hang with "those kind of folks" it will rub off.

Jokes are a lot harder to type when you have to explain them...so I won't be doing that anymore.

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by tneumann

Jokes are a lot harder to type when you have to explain them...so I won't be doing that anymore.

But it's sooooooo much fun to explain one's jokes. Or one could just use lots and lots of emoticons. Or find some crayons. Or get Frank to help you. That's a joke. Oooooooops. Did it myself, didn't I? Here's some more emoticons to make up for it.

[cobarr]

Originally Posted by rray

For me, the main benefit for having a Client at the inspection is to sign the contract and pay me. Then they can take off for an hour or two, or sit down and eat all my candy. The last thing I want is for them to be following me around. That's when they start asking questions about something that I'm not even working on at the moment, causing distractions and interfering with the inspection process itself. I provide candy, tape measures, digital cameras, pens and paper, just about anything they want just so they do not follow me around at the inspection. Once I finish doing a good, thorough job for them, I'll be happy to discuss my findings, show them anything that interests them, and answer their questions.


The problem with that statement, though, is that one is presuming that their lives revolve around the home inspection. I can assure you that it does not. They might have been at the doctor's office learning that the wife was pregnant. And we all know what it's like sitting in the doctor's office. And if one goes in for one thing but finds out other things, yes, there can certainly be a delay.

None of what you describe in your post is unusual. It is unusual to get it all in the same day, though. I remember one day a couple of years ago where we had six inspections scheduled. Three claimed they canceled the night before. One claimed he canceled that morning. One Realtor didn't show up so we couldn't get in (that Realtor never showed up; I don't do business with him anymore because he does not value my time). One was an absolute jerk. One of the worst days in my inspection career.

Just rock 'n' roll with the tide and you'll be okay. But it is nice to be able to come to NACHI and get it all off our chests. I usually have a margarita and then come to NACHI; calms me down some.

I like the way Russel Ray thinks. One has to appreciate the candor of the statement "The main benefit of having a client at the inspection is to SIGN the contract and PAY me".

[wforsyth]

Originally Posted by rray

We did an inspection back in November 2003 where the parents brought their three kids along. Halfway through the inspection, we noticed the kids running around the house but parents nowhere to be found. Parents big SUV was gone. We asked the oldest kid where his parents were. "Oh, they went Christmas shopping. They told us to stay here and play." Huh? In someone else's furnished house? You've got to be kidding me. And leaving them with two total strangers that they had met for the first time only 30 minutes ago. My gawd, folks, I'm gay, so most religious political extremist fundamentalist fanatics consider me a pervert and pedophile. And these parents left their three young boys (5, 6, 9) in the care of my tender arms? Help! Where has our society gone?

We did our best at babysitting, and I guess the kids had fun with us because there was a $100 check from the parents waiting for us at the Realtor's office the next day when we delivered the report. Along with the check was a little note thanking us for taking care of the kids and telling us that the kid did, indeed, have a good time with us.

That is insane, and anyone who considers you are pervert and a pedophile is a moron.

[hspinnler]

My contract says that the client should be present during the inspection. On more than one ocassion, the client or agent has pointed out something before I saw it, or something that I did not see and should have. To me, a little aggravation from an overzealous client is sometimes offset by their potential to actually help me locate something I may have otherwise missed. I strive hard to find everything during a standard and not technically exhaustive inspection. Hey, there are a lot of crappily constructed, cluttered and poorly maintained homes here in ATL that have alot of surprises. There's a ton of stuff to look for and catch. For example, we have termites, rodent damage, water problems in basements & crawlspaces. We have your do-it-yourselfers and passive concealment galore. Booby trapped or rigged dampers, windows, doors, faucets, drains, sump pumps, furnaces, appliances, electrical, difficult to detect leaks, scuttle holes and attic access points, etc. On the other hand, I do like it when the agent brings contracts for them to sign though.

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by hspinnler

On the other hand, I do like it when the agent brings contracts for them to sign though.

Now that's a no-go on my inspections.

It's happened to me a few times. I immediately tell the Realtor "My time is real tight today and that I have a lot of information that I need to supply to my client before I leave, so please find a better time and place for your clients' contract signings".

The client is all mine until I shake his/her hand and say my good-by's. Then the Realtor can use the house for whatever you'd like after I leave.

[William J. Decker]

Good point, Dave;

I have had a Realtor bring their kid to the inspection and tell (not ask) me to babysit while the Realtor and the client retired to an upstairs rec room to talk and watch TV.

I just duct taped the little guy to a basement column.

(Note: The line above was a joke. Maybe a poor one, but then consider the source.)

[Russel Ray]

All the major brokerages here now encouraged their agents to skip the inspection. However, if that is not possible, then to either (1) let everyone in and go sit in the car or leave, or (2) sit down with the buyer and go over contracts, help them take measurements and pictures, etc.

I don't care what they do as long as they don't follow me around asking questions. In fact, I like it when they take up a specific location and start chatting about the house and signing contracts. I've learned a lot of stuff by keeping my ears open.

[William J. Decker]

Also a good point, RR.

I like it when the client is interested, follows me (but not to close), takes an interest in the inspection, is open to learning and asks questions.

These are the ones who learn, and because of this they like me and refer me.

Too many clients act like they really don't want an inspection.

[dhelm]

Just had one the other day where the client actually went into the crawl space with me. I considered it a good teaching opportunity. I never care if the client follows me around. In fact, if they are there, I will explain what I am looking at and why. Admittedly I'm not doing three inspections a day, so am not strapped for time usually. The client who went into the crawl space will be sending me referrals. ( first home, really interested in what he was getting into).

[Russel Ray]

I had one Client follow me into a crawl space once. Not only did he not buy the house, but he moved out of state. I think he moved to Washington.