Who does your inspection belong to? : Rooftop Views

Rooftop Views

Who does your inspection belong to?

This article is by Carl Brahe, owner of Inspection Perfection

The current economic environment has caused business to go two ways with customer service. It has gotten really good or really bad. In many retail establishments every customer brings multiple employees offering help where a year ago it was nearly impossible to find an employee, and even harder to find one who was willing to help. In other businesses customer service has become totally nonexistent.

The same situation is occurring with property inspections. Stories of cut-rate, low quality inspections are common. In one instance an inspector quoted a low rate, but showed up without a camera. When asked about pictures he informed his client that photos were $100 extra. For the extra fee he took pictures using a cell phone. I observed an inspector conducting an inspection without a tool belt or box, no camera nor computer. His only tools seemed to be a clip board and a flashlight. Other inspectors are working extra hard to please clients.

A Denver area real estate agent relates: “I had an instance of an Inspector (chosen by the buyer) who arrived at the residence and after the client spent about 20 minutes shadowing his inspection and asking specific questions about some questionable aspects of the home, he asked if she would leave him alone and wait for his report. A first time buyer and intimidated by the thought that some serious things could be wrong with the property, she did what she was told.

When it came to obtaining the report, we waited a few days and the Inspector faxed one copy to the buyer. When the buyer and I called to have him explain a few things, he was too busy. When I called to request my own copy, I was told that he didn't keep his records and I'd have to get it from the buyer. Subsequently, issues with leaks in the water pipes had to be discovered and resolved late enough into the process that the buyer's earnest money was at stake.”

There are many articles to guide residential and commercial buyers in hiring an inspector. In practice, they tend to find you the best salesperson, not the best inspector. All have lists of questions to ask potential inspectors; questions about education, background, experience, but they never suggest the most important question of all. The question never asked is: “Who do you work for?”

Many answers to this question might be offered. Ask anyone who provides you with goods or services, and almost no one will give the only correct answer: “I work for you.” All economic activity occurs because a person or company has a need or desire and sufficient economic power to pay for it. All workers in all phases of all design, production, promotion, delivery and service work for the end consumer. The simple fact of economics is: All economic activity exists to serve the consumer.