got fired - InspectionNews

John Dirks Jr · #1 (**permalink**) 08-15-2008, 06:58 AM

I thought that would get your attention.

The truth is the job ended early by mutual agreement. The job was being done for a seller. It turns out the client thought they were getting a code compliant inspection. Not only that but one which took into account what the codes happened to be at the time the house was built. As I began to point out things that needed attention he began to question about code and grandfathering and all that. I explained that I didn't do things that way.

To make a long story short, we had a respectful discussion, he paid me a partial fee and I did a partial report of what I had done.

Have any of you ever had a client misunderstand what your service was intended to do? How did you handle it?

Scott Patterson · #2 (**permalink**) 08-15-2008, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Dirks Jr

I thought that would get your attention.

The truth is the job ended early by mutual agreement. The job was being done for a seller. It turns out the client thought they were getting a code compliant inspection. Not only that but one which took into account what the codes happened to be at the time the house was built. As I began to point out things that needed attention he began to question about code and grandfathering and all that. I explained that I didn't do things that way.

To make a long story short, we had a respectful discussion, he paid me a partial fee and I did a partial report of what I had done.

Have any of you ever had a client misunderstand what your service was intended to do? How did you handle it?

I always ask a prospective client what type of inspection they are looking for. I briefly go over on the phone what I will be doing during the inspection. I would hope that if they were looking for a code compliant inspection that they would tell me first and not after I'm at the home.

Markus Keller · #3 (**permalink**) 08-15-2008, 08:47 AM

Customers don't always know what they want and what they want isn't always what they really need.
I usually assess needs during initial phone or visit and go from there.
You should consider having multiple contracts for various types of inspections. Each of my contracts has a different heading that makes it fairly clear that it is or isn't an HI (HI insp contr; Specified condition contr; Construction insp contr; etc)
I've done many code compliance inspections. I only do them on an hourly basis, not for a set fee. You can never foresee all the issues that might arise.
It sounds like you did OK with the client, a good learning lesson.