Summary Page?

[Joseph Burkeson, CMI]

Originally Posted by Kevin Luce

Sounds time consuming.

Most good reporting software will allow you to determine what defects appear in the summary, no extra time required.

Just realize that your report like everyone else's won't be read and all the other decisions become very easy, the reality is that clients reading the summary is about the best it ever gets.

[Brian C. Hoagland]

I refer to the summary report with all items defined by the report to be defective in any manner requiring repair. Time consumption has nothing to do with accurately and faithfully executing your obligation to provide an objective understanding of the property to your client. The summary is provided as a convenience to the client for easy transfer between the parties in the transaction so things can get done or to allow for smoother negotiations.

[Doug Edwards, CMI]

It is not time consuming at all. The photos are simply downloaded to an (file) album, I do some annotations on the photos, perhaps some arrows or circles are added to indicated the exact discrepancies. The report package is done before I ever leave the inspection site, the customer has their copy in their hands if they attend. It is about 95% complete at the end of the inspection. I do the Summary back at the office, usually takes half an hour to an hour if I get distracted and come in here. I then email the photo album and the summary to the customer the next morning after I review it again. It is produced in the normal course of doing the inspection with a few exceptions. Believe me, Ive done it many different ways and this one works great for me, may not for someone else. I did two summaries yesterday afternoon with a total of about 1.5 hours time invested. It isn't hard if you don't include all the nickel dime crap in the report that does not matter. As I said Ive seen some reports where they tell the customers how to arrange their furniture.

Oh yeah, and if you really want to save time, use a Voice recognition software and you can dictate the entire summary while your computer types it. Works like a dream. The more you use it the more accurate it gets. Most people give up too easy and think it sux so they quit using it.

[Kevin Luce]

Wow!

I just added a Summary page to my report and only added the first sentence from each comment. 26 comments and it looks like a lot of problems with the house. I would think this would scare the clients then anything else.

Example:

Electrical
1. Double taps installed at breaker.
2. Reverse polarity found at various outlets in house.
Plumbing
3. TPR valve pipe is not installed on water heater.
Heating
4. Furnace did not operate when thermostat was calling for heat.

By the time you add all the comments, it looks scary.

I'm going to have to get some feed back from some people around here before going in this direction.

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by Kevin Luce

Wow!

I just added a Summary page to my report and only added the first sentence from each comment. 26 comments and it looks like a lot of problems with the house. I would think this would scare the clients then anything else.

Example:

Electrical
1. Double taps installed at breaker.
2. Reverse polarity found at various outlets in house.
Plumbing
3. TPR valve pipe is not installed on water heater.
Heating
4. Furnace did not operate when thermostat was calling for heat.

By the time you add all the comments, it looks scary.

I'm going to have to get some feed back from some people around here before going in this direction.

The report is not scary, the report is the report. Perhaps the house is scary?

[gfransway]

I produce a summary report but also have this statement within the customer contract signed by the end user.

I agree to read the entire summary, main inspection reports and scope of work as received from your inspector, or from your realty agent if you choose to have them to receive it for you.

[Joseph Burkeson, CMI]

Originally Posted by gfransway

I produce a summary report but also have this statement within the customer contract signed by the end user.

I agree to read the entire summary, main inspection reports and scope of work as received from your inspector, or from your realty agent if you choose to have them to receive it for you.

You are welcome to put any silly thing you like in your report & contract and you may even get some of your clients to sign off on it, but don't be so disillusioned to think that you could ever convince a judge or jury that the client is somehow obligated to you beyond paying your bill. They purchased a report from you and can do with it as they please, up to and including using it to wipe their *****, and you have no recourse.

I am quite amused at the self importance some of you pour on yourself in demanding people read what you have written, are you all failed novelists that lack the ability to attract a publisher while now placing unrealistic demands of the few folks that will ever get to see your prose?

[Kevin Luce]

I am quite amused at the self importance some of you pour on yourself in demanding people read what you have written, are you all failed novelists that lack the ability to attract a publisher while now placing unrealistic demands of the few folks that will ever get to see your prose?

I'm happy that most clients want to be at the inspection. I would like to see reports in 3-D hologarms just like in the first Star Wars where Pricess Leia asked for help from Obi-Wan Kenobi.

[Doug Edwards, CMI]

Some summaries are lengthy, but face it, what is it's intended purpose? Your report should be an evaluation of the home, warts and all. That is why it is important to manage the customer's expectations BEFORE, during and after the inspection. I often will have a home with numerous electrical errors/discrepancies but it may be easily correctable items. I convey that to the customer while the number may be significant the corrections are manageable and should be done by a licensed, competent professional, not their cousin Fester, twice removed, who used to work for a contractor one summer while learning the septic tank business. Be honest, be serious when need be but one doesn't have to say "Oh MY God!" for every little thing that comes up. Some inspectors are so scared of being sued they put silly crap in the report and hope the Realtors don't get mad or the customer gets scared off. Sometimes the less said is more. Spend more time covering the inspection and less time covering your *****, learn to write critically statements while covering what needs to be covered. I guess I was fortunate as I had to learn to write personnel evaluations and we only had one page to do it. You have to be succinct and still get all you want to say across the readers.

[relliott]

I feel a summery page is not needed for some of the reasons above.
The whole report is supposed to be a summery of the place.
Ok so maybe they do not care the roof is flat or roof is modified bitumen with improper flashing.
But to assure you are not focusing attention on the roof while that small item such as Vent is metal spring type.just gets completely ignored as you figure it is too minor for the summery.(to bad about the fire 6 months later)
It is best to make going through the entire report fast and easy.
Table of contents and good separation.

Just my opinion

[Nathan Simpson]

Originally Posted by Kevin Luce

I have come across reports that have a summary page and I have heard that it is required in some states. I recently had a request from a Realtor if I can include a summary page in my reports. Since this information is already included in the report and finding it it each page is easy to do, I cannot see a reason for it. So I come to you to see if there is a good reason to include a summary page on which I cannot think of?

I have never included a summary page and eliminated the "Major Defect Page" that gave our professional opinion on what items are considered a "Major Defect" in a standard contract that the buyer and seller signed from their Realtors.

Just looking for some input why you think a summary page is important.

Always trying to keep an open mind.

Hi Kevin
I include a summary page. I think it is more for convienience of the realtors. One agency that I work with only sends the summary to the listing agent when asking for credits or repairs. If their buyer chooses to back out of the deal, then the whole report is sent. Different offices do different things.
Nathan