Thread: Realtor's and sometimes clients just don't get it.

Did a HI for a client 2 weeks ago. today he calls me and ask if I got back over there to check the gas. Ok I.m on a job drawing a blank cause I have done about 12 HI's since then and slept a night or two. i tell him did my report indicate i would be going back. he said you told me you would because the gas was not on. rather than get into a pissing contest about how I don't go back when the Realtor forgets that GAS is a utility i say i will get back to you later in the day. heck i can't remember that far back without notes. So I get home look at the report and the only gas appliance is a furnace with a rusted heat exchanger and 1" of rust on the burners so I report it and tell him to get it serviced. he calls today and whats to know if i went back to see if the furnace works. i said no, no need I told you to get a tech there and I,m not firing up a furnace with a busted heat exchanger. he says he needs to know if it works because if it doesn't the bank will buy a new one. It may work but not like it should unless it suppose to kill you. he says can you call my realtor and tell her. sure i say but it's in the report so she has already read it. I call her and she says she was not aware, she has not read the report. Geezz. She gives me the same song and dance about the bank buying a new one if it does not function. They just don't get that my agenda ain't thiers or the BANKS agenda.

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I see your problem ... sometimes the HI's just don't get it either ...

Originally Posted by ren ramsey

... he says he needs to know if it works because if it doesn't the bank will buy a new one. It may work but not like it should unless it suppose to kill you.

Problem: Communication

Solution: Tell them 'No, the furnace IS NOT WORKING.' It is that plain and simple. In your reports define NOT WORKING - or whatever other term or phrase you prefer to use - as 'not working as intended' ...

Sometimes it IS NOT the people reading the report who don't get it, sometimes it is the people writing the report who fail to fully and simply come right out and say "DA FURNACE, SHE AIN'T A WORKIN' NO MO' ".

Did YOU say in your report that it was NOT WORKING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, or did you push that decision off onto the HVAC tech by saying that it rusted/rusting out and the HVAC tech needs to evaluate it? If you left it to the HVAC tech, then *you* *did not* *say it was not working* ... no wonder they were contacting you.

Sorry to come down so hard on you, but HIs really do need to be willing to write 'It ain't NFG' (only use nicer words ) followed by 'Needs to be replaced NOW'

I had the exact opposite yesterday. The agent did not want to see or receive a copy of the report! Apparently this agent did not want to know about anything, she thinks ignorance is bliss. The client told me that the agent told him to just write down what he wanted the seller to repair or take care of and she would get with the listing agent.

When I've come across a system that is a clear safety hazard due to deterioration, neglect, or improper installation, I'll tell the client that I will not activate or test the system due to safety concerns and notate it this way in the report.

In this case, including verbiage in the report that states "activating a furnace with a damaged/cracked/deteriorated heat exchanger poses a safety hazard and it should not be tested in it's present conditions - furnace appears to be in need of immediate replacement" ........ would probably cover things.

Real a tors are my most fravorite peoples.
Just kidding..

Originally Posted by ren ramsey

Did a HI for a client 2 weeks ago. today he calls me and ask if I got back over there to check the gas. Ok I.m on a job drawing a blank cause I have done about 12 HI's since then and slept a night or two. i tell him did my report indicate i would be going back. he said you told me you would because the gas was not on. rather than get into a pissing contest about how I don't go back when the Realtor forgets that GAS is a utility i say i will get back to you later in the day. heck i can't remember that far back without notes. So I get home look at the report and the only gas appliance is a furnace with a rusted heat exchanger and 1" of rust on the burners so I report it and tell him to get it serviced. he calls today and whats to know if i went back to see if the furnace works. i said no, no need I told you to get a tech there and I,m not firing up a furnace with a busted heat exchanger. he says he needs to know if it works because if it doesn't the bank will buy a new one. It may work but not like it should unless it suppose to kill you. he says can you call my realtor and tell her. sure i say but it's in the report so she has already read it. I call her and she says she was not aware, she has not read the report. Geezz. She gives me the same song and dance about the bank buying a new one if it does not function. They just don't get that my agenda ain't thiers or the BANKS agenda.

My opinion simple words should be write in report book.Full evaluation recommended by HVAC tech.
SmartChoice Home And Mold Inspections
Brampton Home Inspections Mississauga Home Inspector Toronto - Home

NO worries Jerry, I have read enough of your post to understand what you mean. For the sake of brevity on this forum I did not give out my entire report quote, but yes, I told them not to use it until it had been evaluated by a tech, that it was not performing the function for which it was intended, and it was safety hazard. I also reported it needed servicing( seperate report item) because it had not had it's annual service as evidence by the rust buildup and that rust = degraded components.

Originally Posted by Scott Patterson

I had the exact opposite yesterday. The agent did not want to see or receive a copy of the report! Apparently this agent did not want to know about anything, she thinks ignorance is bliss. The client told me that the agent told him to just write down what he wanted the seller to repair or take care of and she would get with the listing agent.

One of our leading real estate attorneys in Colorado, tells agents to never be involved in anyway with the inspection. Don't refer an inspector or list of inspectors, don't attend the inspection, don't discuss anything with the inspector, don't discuss what should be requested from the seller, don't word the inspection notice to the seller for the buyer; simply transcribe what the buyer dictates for their repair request to the seller.

That attorney is a very smart guy, but I think this is one place that he is failing to giving good advice. Buyers (and sellers) use agents for more than just opening the front door of a house. They, justifiably, have expectations of receiving good advice from an agent.

Just last week I had a listing agent attend the inspection along with the purchasers agent.

The listing agent was interested to know what I was finding as was the purchasers agent.

I suspect your Colorado lawyer is interested in protecting the Realtor(s).

Originally Posted by Raymond Wand

Just last week I had a listing agent attend the inspection along with the purchasers agent.

The listing agent was interested to know what I was finding as was the purchasers agent.

I suspect your Colorado lawyer is interested in protecting the Realtor(s).

He is indeed, but he may be changing his tune. I took a class from him today, and he told the agents there that part of their job was to help their clients make good decisions about who they use for title companies, mortgage lenders and yes, home inspectors......

Originally Posted by ren ramsey

NO worries Jerry, I have read enough of your post to understand what you mean. For the sake of brevity on this forum I did not give out my entire report quote, but yes, I told them not to use it until it had been evaluated by a tech, that it was not performing the function for which it was intended, and it was safety hazard.

Ren,

I was suspecting and hoping such - the post just above yours, quoted below, is the reason I responded the way I did - yikes!

Originally Posted by sanjeev supayia

My opinion simple words should be write in report book.Full evaluation recommended by HVAC tech.