Slow Down In Home Inspections

[Dan Bowers, CMI]

Is it just Kansas City or is everybody else getting slow.

Let me rephrase that - its not slow / its dead-dog slow. In the past 3 weeks I've had probably 14 other inspectors I know and trust tell me they're doing 2-3 inspections a week - and some weeks Nada

These are not brand new guys. They are 4 - 8 - 12 year inspectors. They are ASHI, NAHI and NACHI inspectors.

My scheduling service says they're seeing the same thing except in Phoenix, the Carolina's, New York and Northern California.

This the kind of market I expect to see between Christmas & New Year, not at this time of year. In my area even our biggest 2 companies are talking about being dead and doing 2-3 a man per week.

Marketing is not working. Anybody else seeing this.

[James E. Braun, CMI]

Same here.

[kpierce]

I am a newbie but it's definitely much slower than I was the previous months.

[rbrady]

Slow here too. Hopefully there will get to be some pent up demand and it will be busier than usual in a month or two.

[Dan Bowers, CMI]

Forgot - 1 other thing. The only guys I see still going halfway strong are guys either giving it away on prices OR reports that say squat. Here is commentary out of a local inspector that is BOTH cheap, fast and does not make many waves AND is still going real strong.

Example of one of his reports I saw recently.

"Per ...... Industry standards we spot checked electrical outlets, lights, switches and fixtures at the property. All that we checked were operational. You have a mixture of grounded and not grounded outlets present. At the time this house was built all outlets were ungrounded".


"There are electrical conditions that we consider typical maintenance issues that are present in most 80 year old homes we see. A new owner may want to modify these once they close and move in".

__________________________________

That was his comments on electrical. I noted among others:

(a) live wires with missing grommets in the disconnect panel; (b) none of the circuits were labeled as to their purpose, so you can’t fully tell if a wire and the breaker are properly matched; (c) double-tapped 120v and 240v circuits (multiple wires on a circuit designed for 1 wire); (d) improperly terminated LIVE wiring at various locations (cap or terminate fully); (e) splicing of wiring in panels by wrapping the splices with DUCT tape; (f) open junction boxes without covers and live wires; (g) OVERSIZED breakers and fues (like a 50 Amp breaker and a #12 cu wire; (h) sharp pointed screws going into electrical panels; (i) missing electrical conduit; (j) outlets, lights or fixtures that were not operational and had no power to them; (k) wires exposed on walls or ceilings surfaces; etc

[Erol Kartal]

It all depends on where your market is. Inspectors in southern California and upper east coast are busy, while midwest and some southern states are very slow. Before my injury, I would work 10 days straight then not a thing for a whole month. It's frustrating.

[Joe Farsetta]

Pretty dead around my parts in NY. I go into the RE offices and peek at the tote boards. Sold homes are almost nill.

Folks cannot get mortgages. Even those with good credit. Many cannot come up with more than 10% down. Many homes are not appraising, either.

[jvogan]

Dan, it's been slow here in Mid-Mo since August. It was the busiest summer ever in the three years I have been doing this, already up about 20% from all of last year. But it has been door-knob dead since August (which has always been my slowest month). It is slowly, evvvver so slowly, gradually picking up, but it is still very slow. All of the agents/offices I speak to tell me how slow it has been. Hang in there, things are cyclical. It sure has thinned the competition around here already, as far as the fly-by-night guys that pop up from time to time. 2 out of business this summer alone!

[jvogan]

I forgot, the inspections that I am getting, seem to be on nicer, upper end homes, and none of the lower end, 80 year old 2 bedroom jobs. This would lead me to believe that people are having trouble getting loans, as Joe said. The only ones buying are the ones that can afford the nice homes!

[Erol Kartal]

Originally Posted by jfarsetta

Pretty dead around my parts in NY. I go into the RE offices and peek at the tote boards. Sold homes are almost nill.

Folks cannot get mortgages. Even those with good credit. Many cannot come up with more than 10% down. Many homes are not appraising, either.

Joe, David Valley needs an assistant....

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by dbowers

Forgot - 1 other thing. The only guys I see still going halfway strong are guys either giving it away on prices OR reports that say squat. Here is commentary out of a local inspector that is BOTH cheap, fast and does not make many waves AND is still going real strong.

Example of one of his reports I saw recently.

"Per ...... Industry standards we spot checked electrical outlets, lights, switches and fixtures at the property. All that we checked were operational. You have a mixture of grounded and not grounded outlets present. At the time this house was built all outlets were ungrounded".


"There are electrical conditions that we consider typical maintenance issues that are present in most 80 year old homes we see. A new owner may want to modify these once they close and move in".

__________________________________

That was his comments on electrical. I noted among others:

(a) live wires with missing grommets in the disconnect panel; (b) none of the circuits were labeled as to their purpose, so you can’t fully tell if a wire and the breaker are properly matched; (c) double-tapped 120v and 240v circuits (multiple wires on a circuit designed for 1 wire); (d) improperly terminated LIVE wiring at various locations (cap or terminate fully); (e) splicing of wiring in panels by wrapping the splices with DUCT tape; (f) open junction boxes without covers and live wires; (g) OVERSIZED breakers and fues (like a 50 Amp breaker and a #12 cu wire; (h) sharp pointed screws going into electrical panels; (i) missing electrical conduit; (j) outlets, lights or fixtures that were not operational and had no power to them; (k) wires exposed on walls or ceilings surfaces; etc

Sounds like a franchise "white bread" inspector. My reports read like yours, Dan! I don't work through realtors anymore.

[Bob Elliott]

I have been getting busy again.
Loans are scheduled to get tougher in December so many are buying now.

[Erol Kartal]

Originally Posted by jfarsetta

Pretty dead around my parts in NY. I go into the RE offices and peek at the tote boards. Sold homes are almost nill.

Folks cannot get mortgages. Even those with good credit. Many cannot come up with more than 10% down. Many homes are not appraising, either.

Therein lies the problem. There are plenty of prospective buyers who just can't swing a deal. Since early this year almost every buyer I worked for had lots of money.

[jvogan]

Originally Posted by ekartal

Therein lies the problem. There are plenty of prospective buyers who just can't swing a deal. Since early this year almost every buyer I worked for had lots of money.

That is EXACTLY what I am seeing here in Missouri.

[Gary Farnsworth]

What slow down? Perhaps some RE are getting rid of their inspectors who belong to every home inspection orginization known to man. My reports are 25+ pages, pictures, verbage, etc. RE do not want the conflicts. Personallity and professionalism are 80% of this industry. I recently did an inspection in Overland Park KS that had a bad roof. Buyer got a $4,000 roof for a $350 inspection. I am way too cheap. I should raise my prices to slow down my business a little. Wait, I am going to Dallas this weekend to see my step-daughter, who, at 38, is finally having her first baby, or should I say, babies!!! Twins!!!