How a Home Inspector Deals With Difficult Realtors and Disclosure Requirements By David Haigh At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Home inspectors and realtors are not always on the same page when it comes to proper disclosures that must be made on a house. It’s a home inspector’s duty to let his client know all that she should know about the home she’s buying or selling, and some realtors don’t fully understand that. Realtors should know it’s not home inspectors who kill deals. Rather, it’s buyers and sellers who fail to negotiate the terms of the sale.

Sometimes the home inspector has to educate realtors as well as clients. There are ethical and legal requirements involved when inspecting a property, and clients need to know about problems. Deliberately overlooking a defect can cause more difficulties down the road, including lawsuits in today’s litigious society. You’d think both realtors and inspectors would want to avoid lawsuits whenever possible.

Here are some examples of how differences between realtors and home inspectors can be handled constructively.

One Sellers House was constructed in the 1950's and GFCI outlets were not a code requirement then. The realtor wanted to know why it was stated in the inspector’s report that they should be installed.

The answer is that the clients' safety is a number one priority. A home inspection is not necessarily a code-compliance inspection. (That depends on state and local regulations.) However, it’s a good idea for an inspector to recommend the latest new construction code safety requirements. That includes GFCI's on every property. An informed client can make his own decisions about these safety features.

Why include mention of dried moisture stains on the garage ceiling in an inspection report? The client needs to know about moisture stains and what they might imply. There could have been a roofing or plumbing leak in the past, and stains should be looked into further by a licensed specialist. A buyer will want to know what previous repairs have been made.

Drywall stains may also require destructive testing. That means removing the drywall to determine the cause of the leak. Moisture from somewhere could be causing damage, or mold could be present.

What if an inspector’s report reveals asbestos ducts are present and should be replaced with newer ducts? Won’t this kill a deal for sure? Again, it’s a home inspector’s job to see to the safety of the client. Asbestos is such a “hot button” issue, its presence should be further evaluated by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor.

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) says that if asbestos is not damaged or duct material is not friable then it (may) be safe. A licensed asbestos contractor would be able to make this determination. It is an informed client’s choice to decide what should be done, but he won’t know if the inspector doesn’t report the problem.

Realtors must be aware that one of a home inspector’s top priorities is to protect the client and everyone involved in the transaction. Failure to make proper disclosures can lead to lawsuits that will cost more than the realtor’s commission on a deal. Clients must choose to do business with ethical realtors who prefer full disclosure from a home inspection.

We’ve no doubt each heard realtors emphasize “Location, location, location.” When it comes to home inspection and making transactions as trouble free as possible, the formula is “Disclose, disclose, disclose!”

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