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MN Inspectors Represent the House

What does “the home inspector represents the voice of the house” mean?

Typically, MN home inspectors are contracted to inspect the home for either a buyer or seller. This is usually recommended and arranged by their real estate agent. Often customers feel because they are paying for the inspector’s report that they can influence the content. Sadly, in a few cases, that is exactly what happens…but should it?

Good home inspectors are not influenced by the customer; they simply report accurately on the condition of the house at the time of the inspection. This is required by their national Standards of Practice, which is where the idea that “the home inspector represents the voice of the house” comes from. The home inspector must focus on the condition of the house at the time it is being inspected. Folding to the pressure of the customer or real estate agent and becoming their advocate is very tempting. Some home inspectors do fold to this pressure, believing that it will make them popular and that other customers will soon follow. The sad fact is that these inspectors soon leave the business because the real estate professionals, home buyers and sellers soon get to understand that their reports cannot be relied upon to accurately express the condition of the home. The inspector’s written report must be honest, accurate, and completely unbiased.

Accurate reporting on the condition of the house is both moral and vital!

Sellers need to know how the quality of the house, at time of sale, compares with other similar houses being sold in the same area so that they may set a realistic selling price. Buyers want to know exactly what is it that they are buying. All parties, being accurately informed, can accommodate cost and service issues within their buying/selling decision, providing they know fully what to expect.

Which inspector would you choose; the one who reports accurately and completely on the condition of the house or the one that tells a story that you would like to hear?

Doug Hastings
MN Home Inspector, Minneapolis & St. Paul
Kaplan University, Home Inspection Lead Instructor

Rob ‘Pops’ Leslie
Kaplan Professionals, Retired

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MN Inspector or MN Realtor’s Role!

How much is this home worth?

…is a question often asked, by buyers, of their home inspector! Value is in the eye of the beholder and what the buyer thinks is value may be very different to the home inspector’s opinion. The role of the home inspector in helping the buyer with valuation is solely providing an accurate report that covers the condition of every aspect of the home. The cost of overcoming individual weaknesses in the home can only come with price quotes from other experts involved. Reaching an accurate cost is a matter of being certain that all weaknesses have been found and can be allowed for in a renovation. Good inspection and accurate reporting will greatly reduce the risks involved in budgeting for any needed repairs.

The buyer, with an accurate home inspection report and a quality realtor evaluation, showing value against comparables in the same district, can decide if the house is good value when the cost of updates identified in the home inspector’s report are factored into the purchase price of the home. This fact… Identifying Final Value… is often lost to buyers, sellers and realtors! Buyers want to buy and sellers want to sell and all things are negotiable. Given an opportunity both sellers and buyers are very often better prepared to adjust their price to cover needed repairs that have been identified or; to make the necessary repairs adjusting the price to meet the new value.

How much is this home worth?

It is worth the perceived value of the buyer after the home inspector has identified and commented accurately in his or her report. And, firm quotes have been received from the experts required to bring the house up to the quality expectations of the buyer.

 

 

Rob ‘Pops’ Leslie

MN Home Inspection
Minneapolis & St. Paul Home Inspections

Kaplan University

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