No contest, its the home condition.
I wrote a post about a month ago about why I recommend home inspectors and it's had quite a few spirited comments. What a shocker, not all of them agreed with me. Frankly, I'm kind of surprised that a month later people are still finding the post and commenting. Every time I think its going to die a natural death, a new flurry of comments.
Anyway, someone commented recently and one of his remarks was that agents don't recommend some home inspectors to buyers because they consider those home inspectors to be "deal killers." His basic premise was that because of the size of a real estate commission, agent's would do anything to keep the deal together, including I guess, advocating an unethical practice. It wasn't said outright, but the implication was, even at the expense of the buyers interest. I respect his opinion but I think he's overstating the case.
OK, I'm not naive enough to believe that this can't happen, but I think that some home inspectors seem to be fixated on this as the reason they don't get referrals from real estate agents. There are any number of reasons why agents won't recommend certain home inspectors, but being "too honest and too ethical" is not one of them. Agents are not afraid of recommending someone who knows what he/she is doing.
The vast majority of agents I know aren't intimidated by comprehensive and detailed home inspections. We want to protect our clients because by doing so, we're also protecting ourselves. Unlike some home inspection contracts, our limit of liability isn't capped out at the cost of the inspection. For what its worth, real estate agents and brokers are very risk adverse.
There is no distinction here, the condition of the house should be accurately reported and left up to the buyer whether to proceed with the purchase, or not. There is nothing wrong with a home inspection report that is accurate and comprehensive. It's not the home inspection report thats a "deal killer," its the condition of the house.
If there are home inspectors or agents out there advocating a practice that would put their clients in any kind of jeopardy for a few bucks, than they should be weeded out of the business, period.
I'll say it again, its not the home inspector, and its not the home inspection report, that causes contracts to fall through, its the condition of the house.
Of course, that's just my opinion. I'm sure you have your own.
Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com
Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist - Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist - Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist
