TOPIC: How low will you go..

I rarely even respond to price quote requests anymore.  Its just a waste of time.  The online search engines give the customer the idea that "Let's Make A Deal" is in order.  They're not concerned with quality, experience, qualifications or professional conduct.  I'm so over the statement, "I've got three other bids to inspect my 3000'sf house with sub area for $199"...

Good Luck Schmuck!

Will, I know what your point is, but not all of us have a referral base built up enough to be that cavalier.
I have been working with Nick Gormicko's approach like in this www.nachi.org/convert.htm . I don't think to do it verbatim is realistic but I have found that the longer I can keep the price shoppers from the price, the better off I am. As soon as I hear them say" I'll get back to you", it's game over.

Iwasjust talking to a parent of a girl on my daughters soccer team last weekend. They recently moved into the neighborhood. I asked them who did their inspection. When I found out who it was, I knew the guy and he is a big ASHI guy. (that's not the issue here) He is one of the cheapest in the area. He missed a roof leak in the garage that soaked the drywall ceiling enough to make a 4x8 sheet fall on the car. There wasn't a lot of damage, just some scratches. I chuckled. ;D

I think the mind set is in Ca. most buyers are going to buy no matter what the inspector says. They use the report to get some concessions from the seller $$ so why pay more ??Agents give insurance policy's to the buyer to cover WH, AC, Built ins and so on so unless there is a obvious structural defect that the seller has not disclosed why pay any more than you have to. I know agents tell the buyers this.

Common on now Gary, you're not suggesting that all inspections and or inspectors are the same and or provide the same level of service are you?  Why a client might pay more is to get more information, more accurate information, better information, more thorough information, more critical information about the condition of the property, all of which they could use to negotiate from a much stronger position with the seller.  I perform expert witness services for real estate transactions, the poor quality of product and service which I encounter during these cases with regard to home inspectors is alarming at best.