No Professional Home Inspection?! Okay, Mr. "W" you say that's what you used to do while working for the government so you just go right on ahead and do your own home inspection. I do advise you to get a Professional Home Inspection...uh, okay you want to do it yourself.
So, we meet at 12:30 today so he could do his "home inspection". Granted, these townhouses were built in 1987, completely gutted and redone inside in 1997 and this particular unit was updated with new cabinets, appliances and bamboo flooring in the kitchen, carpet in the living/bedroom areas in 2004. And....it's only 500 sq. ft.
So, Mr. "W" proceeds with the "home inspection" and this is what he does:
- Mr. "W" has his electricity meter tester thingy and goes around testing the outlets (His meter is not working right so he has to bust out his little doohickie one that just beeps saying there action going on in those two pronged holes)
- Runs the water in both bathroom/kitchen sinks and bathtub (and guess what? Yup. They drain.)
- Flushes the toilet (whatever may have been in there went down)
- Tests/runs all the appliances. (even though he adamantly states he doesn't cook)
- Looks at the structure inside/out and on the lanai where the storage shed is (all 500 sq. ft. of it mind you)
- Tests the lights and ceiling fans and notices a bulb is out in the kitchen. (Immediately I tell him I'll get him one!)
- He notices one of the slats on the vertical blinds is missing. (Immediately I tell him I'll get him one!)
- Opens the glass door and all windows and makes sure they are all properly working. (I even suggest that I will get him silicone spray so he can have smoother running doors and windows)
Then he whips out his notebook and it has drawings of his furnitures and the measurements! I go along with him and he goes around trying to mentally place all his furniture in the unit. (I feel like I'm moving in with him! I am trying to place everything in there as well) While measuring with his handy dandy measuring tape he decides it'll be okay. Whew! Everything fits. And he's running around with a very little grin while doing all this. (he's happy)
Okay, now that all that is done I whip out some paperwork for him to sign. First, the Waiver of the PROFESSIONAL Home Inspection which states that I advised him to do a professional home inspection but that he waived that right and accepts the condition of the property without having to conduct a professional home inspection.
Then we go through the Seller's Disclosure and nothing much there as it was one of the partners for the complex who owns many and has rented them out and redone all. (and it doesn't take the place of a "professional home inspection") Mr. "W" happily signs off on it and signs the Receipt for the Seller's Disclosure as well. Then, according to contract he writes out a check for an additional deposit upon completion on C-51 (Home Inspection).
Mr. "W" is a happy camper so far. So am I. I make sure to have client's sign off on every little thing. And that's so I sleep well at night........
Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's Mililani Hawaii Real Estate Blog 2007
Sally,
The way you wrote this cracked me up, your client sounds like a hot ticket! The best part is he is happy and you can sleep tonight! Thanks for keeping us updated :)
Sally, the way I feel about this is that even if he really was a "Professional Home Inspector", he still needed to have that unit inspected by another "Professional Home Inspector" and not himself. It is sort of like what they say about an Attorney representing himself............................ I will let you fill in the blank.
Good job on keeping your cool through that.
Suzanne: I can sleep because no matter what...if the client insists on doing his own inspection I have a signed document that I advised him....and he waived the right to do one.
George: And I have long ago stopped "arguing" with client's when they "insist" they can do it on their own. And he's not a Professional Home Inspector..he worked for the government. My cousin is a building inspector and when she bought her place in January ...she listened to me and got one...and she gutted it anyway! And so...just sign that I advised him.
Jonathan: You're funny! It is a pleasure to work in Hawaii where it is pretty nice weather all the time. The only thing I can say is that we are required to go through our contracts, contingencies and time lines thoroughly! Which is good. We all can sleep well at night doing so.
Patricia: $240,000 list price...and that's a good deal.
Neal: And....we all know that. All I can do is advise....strongly. I have had him sign off on the doc that I advised him and he waived it. And....I live in the same complex. Here, if it is main plumbing, main electrical, structural etc. it is the associations responsibility with anything to do with the common elements.
Sally, I make my very few buyers sign a waiver too. Good for you!
Missy: And that's the way it is. Got to....sign, sign, disclose and sign.
Kathy: Oh, my goodness. What kind of agent is that????? That's like a Professional Homes Inspector who says he'll "fix" this and that. Nope, none of the ones I refer do that...conflict.
It not really funny when someone has issues after they close on a property, but certain people seem to know more than the Professionals, all I can say is, should have had a Home Inspection.....
Good info for those who appreciate Good advice..
Tom Weiss
Elaine: No kidding! Well, as long as we know what's going on.
Thomas: And all I can say is all I can do is advise my client.
Midori: Ha! Knew you all would...I think I presented that well myself. I think I'll do the whole "house" series here....haha!
Cyndee: I think I know Mr. "W" well enough to know what his wants/needs are. He's a good guy.
Sally,
I am like you. I have the seller and/or buyer sign off on everything. I also keep a log for each file with all the phone calls, emails, letters, advertising, etc.
Your buyer deserves a Hawaiian Printed Shirt.
Chuck: I sure would like to hear some of your stories out there. We do the same....I also use Outlook and have separate folders for each client....at the end I convert the whole thing (depending ...could run upwards of 200 or more emails) into one pdf file to save in their file on pc. At the end I burn the file onto cd and throw it in the safe. And he's already getting a deal with the other agent and I chipping in from our commission to the seller so the contract would go.
Thesa: WooHoo. Got to.
Ana: So far so good...this is an update to two prior posts on Mr. "W".
Sally,
I am getting to that point of transferring everything to a disk. Right now I have hard copies of everything and I am realizing that it just takes up to much space.
Sally, I love reading these updates on Mr. "W". I kind of have a picture of him in my mind. I hope you keep them coming.
My opinion is, as long as you informed your client and he was aware of his rights to a professional inspector then you did your duty. We had my brother-in-law do all of our home inspections. My husband was more comfortable with his brother than a professional. Hey, what ever makes the client happy, right?
You did it right. Recommend, let them make their decision and then have them sign off that you recommended and they waived.
I am glad hi doohickie worked especially after the thingy was giving him problems. LOL
Mana: And that's all one can do...maybe we'll have a picture in front of the townhouse when it's done.
Randy: Yup! I'm glad any doohickie worked at that a point. I was ready to run down the street to get a nightlight...lol!
Carole: And so the reason to have a Waiver signed if they are doing it themselves. Too many old houses with problems and some do not want to use a professional home inspector. It's weird too. During the "boom" so many "professional" home inspectors came out of the woodwork.
I constantly have to tell my clients that I am not a home inspector. They want to know if the A/C sounds ok, roof, lights etc...
Vicki
Vicki: Mr. "W" only needed me for positioning of the imaginary furniture...lol!
Woo Hoo Sally...
Don't tell anyone but we purchased one of the rental homes we own without having an inspection done. Duh :)
Yah. It bit us right in the behind. Ouch said my check book :)
TLW...ROAR!
TLW: How can we "make" one do one...and after stressing the importance....still don't want one...and so ....make them sign a waiver. All we can do is advise. Yours sounds like a real OUCH ....
I've always been in awe at the way that outlet tester-thingy can solicit a "where can I get one of those?" from the buyers...
Leanne: Thanks. And that's all we can do....STRONGLY recommend and advise. I have actually changed their minds by time the inspection came around.
Glory: Yeah, all we can do.
Whew! That's a strong statement coming from you...
I agree on the spirit of your post - the trump-ed up aspect of the HI industry - but I think that the industry grew out of a legitimate need for a 3rd party evaluation. Right now, the home performance industry is in it's infancy and there IS a legitimate need for that type of home evaluation - can't say where it will be 10 years from now. The inspectors I interact with are pretty good at getting into the nooks and crannies to check things out thoroughly.
This post really stimulated some good responses. In the end we can only advise and our clients and document.
Sally,
Where do you get these folks from? All your characters....Me, I get the boring and basic types - no material for a post! Guess that is why I am writing a book... and, yes, there is a real estate agent in the book. Not you but maybe I should change the character a bit!
Back to the topic - As long as you advised and they signed the waiver, you have done your job!