Alban Inspections:
Non- Alarming

We received a terrific compliment recently. Rudy Rudacil performed an inspection for a Realtor’s clients. The resulting list of deficiencies, some serious and some not so serious, were presented by Rudy with care, explaining the nature and consequence of each problem; and, he explained remedies, but without alarming his clients.
The contract purchasers had an “as is” deal and settled. Soon after settlement, the new owner was transferred. They listed the home with our friendly Realtor. Needless to say, none of the repairs had yet been accomplished.
Since the home was located in an excellent neighborhood and had an appealing floor plan, the home was soon put under contract by Buyer #2. This buyer hired a non-Alban home inspector, who reported the exact same list of deficiencies. However, his verbal report was rough, his negativity showed and he did not offer suggestions for corrective action. This alarmed Buyer #2, who cancelled the contract.
The home was again sold to Buyer #3, who scheduled an inspection with Alban. Rodney Shull performed the third inspection without benefit of our initial report. Rodney observed and reported the same deficiencies. His presentation was focused on identifying the problems and advising positive  solutions. The new buyers appreciated the information and were not alarmed. They have settled and repairs are underway. What a difference the home inspector’s presentation and attitude makes. All of us at Alban Home Inspection Service believe our mission is to educate our clients about the home. Defect discovery is the natural byproduct of the process. By offering a balanced report without attitude or negativity, our clients appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of the home without becoming unduly alarmed. Recommend Alban for your client’s next home inspection. They will be pleased.

The good news? Your home is sold. The bad news?
Tomorrow’s your home inspection. Are your palms sweaty yet?

If a home is in decent condition and the
homeowner has maintained its major
components over the years, an
inspection should be a piece of cake. In
any case, there’s nothing that can be
done at this late date, so the homeowner shouldn’t work up a sweat about an inspection. To ease the pressure, suggest the following to your client:
Leave the premises – Turn the actual showing duties over to the real estate agent. That’s what the homeowner’s paying for, right?
Mind your manners – Remind the homeowner to repeat this mantra: “The home inspector is my friend.” The seller should not treat the inspector as a man on a mission to find fault in the home. Instead, the inspector should be thought of as a fair assessor, someone who will hopefully move the property one step closer to “sold.”

Don’t argue during the inspection – If
the homeowner insists on being
present, he should remember that he is
a quiet observer – not the home’s
defense lawyer. There will be time to
explain and negotiate after the
inspection report is received.
Don’t say what you don’t know – If
the homeowner is present, his records
should be as well, and he should
consult them before answering
questions about dates, ages or other
relevant queries. In this case, guessing
can count against the seller, so remind
him to only say what he can prove.
Have an open-door policy – Normal
living areas in the home should be
easily accessible.
Say what you mean – If the homeowner agrees to repairs, he should make sure they’re done promptly. Delaying repairs could mean delaying closing. Who wants that to happen?