I am a newly trained graduate of AHIT as some of you may know. I also just took the NHIE and passed. SO needless to say, I havent really started in this business quite yet and I have no paid inspections under my belt as I am still getting the business up and running. So here is my dilemma...A friend of mine that has been helping me out is trying to sell his home and wants to hire me to do a real inspection for him. He wants to help get me some business but he also wants to be aware of any problems his house may have before a buyer puts an offer in so there are no surprises.

Thats all fine and I would do it however he wants to put the in$pection report on the counter for all potential buyers to read over while walking thru his house. That is where I am no longer comfortable! Having my report that is meant for him, looked at by people that possibly could be putting an offer on the house could raise liability issues for me. It just seems like a bad idea and that a buyer could come back on me for something in the report that wasnt even meant for that person. Anyway, just wondering your thoughts!

You are right, liability awaits, but that is part of home inspecting. Get used to it.
If "I" do an inspection, most sellers won't want to share that information with the potential buyer unless they are committed to correcting every single defect or using the report as a disclosure to avoid further negotiations on the price once the buyer's inspector finds the same things I will find.
I usually talk most sellers out of getting an inspection since I explain to them that I will find defects that they will be liable for disclosing, they won't be able to un-ring the bell. I would like the sellers inspection business, but I want them to know what is in store for them before they hire me.

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Jim Luttrall
Mr. Inspector.net, Inc.
Allen, Texas 75002

Brian,

Congratulations on your 1st upcoming Home Inspection.

The client owns the Inspection report and can use it as he wishes.

This Home Inspection is no different than any other as far as liability goes.

Lace them home Inspection shoes up and go to work.

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It Might have Choked Artie But it ain't gone'a choke Stymie!
Billy J. Stephens HI Service
Memphis TN.

Just put the standard disclaimer on the front of the report like Texas does "Since this report is provided for the specific benefit of the client(s), secondary readers of this information should hire a licensed inspector to perform an inspection to
meet their specific needs and to obtain current information concerning this property.".


I dont see anything wrong with doing a paid inspection for a friend. Friend or not, Im doing the inspection for them just like I would anyone else. Always do your best, be honest, and you wont go wrong. Good luck on your first inspection.

The only problem I have with that Jim is to literally hand some one an inspection report that my client paid me for and now he is giving it away for free really tics me off. Listing agents will give prospective buyers my report on the home, the complete report. This is not for them to do. To disclose concerns about the home is one thing. To make a copy to pass out to God knows how many people is another story. My client paid for that report. If anyone else is to receive a copy, as in new buyers, then the money for that report should be passed on to the person that created it. Being me. Like I say, disclosure of concerns is one thing but to have one potential buyer pass on the house for concerns found and they paid me for those findings then the new potential clients should also pay for an inspection just as my client did.

As far as you Brian

If you have never done an inspection before, by yourself and written a complete unbiased report then honestly, I would go practise on all your friends and neighbors first. Get the feel of it. Get the flow of it. Read what you write and see if that is really what you want to say or how to say it. Go over your findings and even go back over an HVAC unit, make sure you did not miss anything.

Even use your neighbors to go over the report written on their home for the feel of presenting yourself. You need a comfort level. Maybe a few ride alongs. But to be fresh off the inspection elevator and walk into someones home and say here I am, I know everything and I am completely comfortable with it, so step aside, is a little tough.

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Ted Menelly
"Castle"
Home Inspection Services

Brain...

I would do the inspection and as was said earlier it is the clients report to do with as he wants. Just be sure to let your friend know that the inspection is only accurate for today. Things may change tomorrow or in a week that makes the inspection report no longer an accurate representation of the condition of the house. If he knows he may be putting out false information he may change his mind about sharing it with potential buyers. He can use your report to help fill out the disclosure form more accurately if he is so inclined to do so.

I dont have a problem doing an inspection for a friend, I was more concerned with just leaving a report on the counter for everyone to see. I wasnt sure on the liability aspect of it.

I have several mock inspections that I am doing for friends to help get my feet wet. I definitely dont want to walk into a paid clients house for the first time without ever having done a walkthru to get a feel for how a real inspection flows and to get practice writing up a report.

Fortunately my friends have been open to letting me practice on their houses. My first full mock inspection is planned for this sunday morning. I expect there to be many kinks that will need to be worked out in my presentation as well as my flow. But its good practice and making mistakes is the best way to learn. I am excited.

Thanks, yeah I will definitely have to let him know that information first. He may decide not to do it altogether if he realizes that he may have t disclose information that I might find.

I hope not because I would like to do a real paid inspection but it wont be till after I do a few mocks first

.
Don't forget to put your name on the front cover & a pile of business cards on the counter.

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It Might have Choked Artie But it ain't gone'a choke Stymie!
Billy J. Stephens HI Service
Memphis TN.

Is your "friend" going to sue you if the eventual buyer hires his own home inspector that finds things you missed? If not, go for it. It sounds like a good first inspection to me, you KNOW somebody may be coming behind you, take your time and be careful. What's the downside?

Excuse me, the client doesn't own the report. At least not in Oregon.

The report is the copyright protected work product of the inspector.

The exclusive rights of the report belong to the inspector. You can do with them what you want.

Me, I authorize the use of the report by the client for the purposes of buying that house. If his deal dies, so does his authorized use. Nobody else has a right to the report.

The report is covered under copyright law.

The inspection fee paid to the inspector doesn't have anything to do necessarily with the rights of the client to the inspection report.

The authorized use of the report by the client should be set forth in your inspection aggreement.

Chris, Oregon

In NC the report belongs to the buyer. At least this the way I understand it.

TN. Home Inspector Act page 11 part 3

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Tennessee Home Inspection Rules.pdf (38.6 KB, 11 views)

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It Might have Choked Artie But it ain't gone'a choke Stymie!
Billy J. Stephens HI Service
Memphis TN.

Brian,

It sounds fine to me. This is a chance to get your name out there. Every real estate agent and potential buyer that walks into the house will see your report. When you are starting out, you need all the exposure that you can get.

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The apostrophe troll.

Chris, very interesting, So what do you do when the listing broker hands your report out to new customers after she recieved it from your past clients selling broker with their permission after the deal didn't go through?

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Wayne,
.
My guess.

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crying rabbit.gif (12.2 KB, 84 views)

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It Might have Choked Artie But it ain't gone'a choke Stymie!
Billy J. Stephens HI Service
Memphis TN.

You should be exited. That is all part of it.

I remember four years ago when I first moved to Texas. Even though I had been inspecting forever and building it was like my first inspection.

I had to take a new Home inspection course because Texas only accepts certain home inspection courses. It also does not care what you did before you moved here. I finished my course, took the Trec exam. and then I was able to start advertising. You cannot do so with out your TREC license number.

I finally got my first inspection about a week after I started marketing. The man was there from start to finish. I certainly was not completely familiar with the Texas requirements even though I just finished the course. I also was not familiar with the Texas software for the report.

I mentioned this before but when I was on the roof of that inspection about an area the size of about 6 ft by 4 ft of shingles started to slide down the roof with me on them. Talk about your first inspection in a new state.

Be excited. It is fun and fulfilling

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Ted Menelly
"Castle"
Home Inspection Services

If your friend is going to be giving you money than you have in my opinion broke the first rule of business.

NEVER DO BUSINESS FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

You'll hear about it the rest of your life.

JMHO and many will disagree, but thats ok.

RICK