What is your HVAC procedure?

[sstowe]

Thanks all so far.

I see that this thread has reappeared which also has some useful info. http://www.nachi.org/forum/f20/you-testing-heating-venting-air-conditioning-systems-8936/

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by dandersen

Home buyers don't know what they need. So I don't give them the option any more (sorry Russel Ray).

There's no need to apologize. I, however, prefer not to categorically lump every home buyer into your "home buyers don't know what they need," because many do. Many first-time home buyers don't. However, many first-time home buyers who's parents/uncles/brothers are general contractors, Realtors, plumbers, roofing contractors, etc., do, indeed, know what they need. My Clients moving here from Massachusetts and Texas know exactly what they need. 95% of the property investors that I work with know exactly what they need. Just like I don't know everything there is to know about real estate, I also don't know everything about my Clients, so I prefer to offer them choices and guide them by asking questions:

"Are you a first-time home buyer?" If so, they definitely don't get my BASIC inspection.

"Are you buying this property to live in, renovate and rent, renovate and flip? Depending on their answer, they could get my BASIC, STANDARD, PREMIUM, TECH, or DRIVE inspection.

"Are you buying a house or a condo?"
"Are you living in the place you're renting?"
Many other questions can help me, as the consultant, guide my Clients.

While many inspectors offer IR, mold, well, and other types of tests, most of my inspections are really just different types of customer service. As you've discovered, many people will pay "extra" for extra HVAC, IR, etc. Well, I've discovered that many people will "extra" for different levels of customer service. I want it all, not really caring whether or not they prefer Nordstrom or Wal-Mart, or anything in between. If they want Nordstrom, I can be Nordstrom (PREMIUM and TECH inspections). If they want Wal-Mart, I can be Wal-Mart (BASIC and DRIVE inspections). If they want something in between, I can offer something in between (STANDARD, LIST, MAINTENANCE, SPOT, M-I-C inspections). Regardless of what they want, there is never a reason for me to send them packing other than the fact that I just don't have time to do it for them or, in a few cases (Realtors whom I don't enjoy working with), don't want to do it for them.

Originally Posted by dandersen

Your physical senses are thousands of times more sensitive than the most expensive infrared camera! Use them!

Now there's advice that my wise old grandmother would be proud of!

Originally Posted by dandersen

It is all about the perception of your client. If you provide enough information to the client, they will have a lot of trouble conjuring up a complaint against you

Exactly! That's what providing choices is all about, "the perception of your client" and "[providing] enough information to the client" so that they can make an intelligent decision. As my wise old grandmother said, "Knowledge is power."

Originally Posted by dandersen

As soon as you, the home inspector sets foot on the property you are now liable for its failure.

Not true if, as you said earlier, "it is all about the perception of your client." Manage those perceptions--something I learned at a very young age and which was re-inforced day in and day out when I worked for 7 years as a consultant in the wireless telecommunications industry.

[David A. Andersen]

Quote:
Originally Posted by dandersen
As soon as you, the home inspector sets foot on the property you are now liable for its failure.

Not true if, as you said earlier, "it is all about the perception of your client." Manage those perceptions--something I learned at a very young age and which was re-inforced day in and day out when I worked for 7 years as a consultant in the wireless telecommunications industry.

Did you see the NACHI TV with Keith Swift?

What I was referring to is the home inspector that was sued for a swimming pool that was not even present at the time of inspection. This happened in California and to my knowledge and cost home inspector $5,000 in settlements.

When someone contracts with you to inspected property, your liability starts. As we have discussed, the more knowledge you provide the less likely they will be able to trip you up.The liability is still there, it is just less of a liability when you do a good job.

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by dandersen

Did you see the NACHI TV with Keith Swift?


What I was referring to is the home inspector that was sued for a swimming pool that was not even present at the time of inspection. This happened in California and to my knowledge and cost home inspector $5,000 in settlements.

Yes, and I've also read his books. This is America, and we have a great wealth redistribution legal system in that anyone can sue anyone else at any time for any reason. I know of one home inspector who was sued and he didn't even do the inspection; his name was simply one of the three that the Realtor gave to the buyers and they had his name on their list of "possible" home inspectors, so the really astute attorney sued him and everyone else.

Originally Posted by dandersen

When someone contracts with you to inspected property, your liability starts. As we have discussed, the more knowledge you provide the less likely they will be able to trip you up. The liability is still there, it is just less of a liability when you do a good job.

Now those three sentences I can agree with.

[David A. Andersen]

so the really astute attorney sued him and everyone else.

I have been up against one of those.

When we were at the mediation table she didn't have a list of things I was supposed to be responsible for. Everything she listed "was" in my report.

All the other parties in the suit were also sitting back waiting for the Home Inspector (Me) to get hung because none of the suit made sense to them either.

[John J. Klimack]

How about you guys up north how due you write up a no inspection of a/c in winter?

[David A. Andersen]

Throw a quote in from your SOP.