TOPIC: Being a Deal Killer

Doug,
If I am reading your post incorrectly, please forgive me as this is not intended as a personal attack in anyway.  But the example you offered is what is referred to as "realtor" speak.  We have clients(the buyers) that have put complete trust in us to tell them what is wrong with the property they are considering buying.  If we know the furnace is shot, then we need to say the furnace is shot, if we know the roof is in poor condition and needs to be replaced, then we need to let them know the roof needs to be replaced.  No need tap dancing around the issue to try and keep the realtors happy.  The soft speak is meant to not inflame the situation and help "get the deal through".  I think a better example of when to soft speak is with routine maintenance issues, like caulking around a bathtub floor, or cutting bushes back etc...  Experienced home buyers will understand the soft speak, first time buyers won't have a clue.

Just my humble opinion.

Rob

Personal attack?? I think you need to make a point in order to make an attack. I don't see anything in your post that has not been stated prior. Maybe I'm missing your intention? I wouldn't say the Furnace is toast if there were only combustion issues and I wouldn't say the roof needed to be replaced if there were only minor moisture stains. Example I added??

Jeremy,
My reply was to Doug's post and I am sorry if "If we know the furnace is shot, then we need to say the furnace is shot, if we know the roof is toast and needs to be replaced, then we need to let them know the roof needs to be replaced.", is not a point to you then what is?  Furnace is shot, to me means furnace needs to be replaced.  Roof is toast, to me, means roof needs to be replaced.  I see nowhere in Doug's post that the issue was a repair concern with combustion issues, or minor roof stains.  Did I miss something? 

The main "point" I was trying to make was that we as inspector's, should not "soft" speak when we know those conditions are present.  We also shouldn't pass the buck "for further review".  If we as inspector's know it's shot, toast, a safety issue etc... Call it.

Ok folks lets not get into a hissy fit

Rob I take no offence from your comments.  In essence you are completely correct.

There is no excuse for not reporting/downplaying something like a bad furnace or roof. I used those conditions as an example (only)  I could have used the bathtub or window caulking just as well.

If a roof or furnace is approaching or (has reached) the end of its service life always suggest repair or replacement as necessary, in addition to the first comment.

I suppose I was a little lax in explaining what I was getting at. 

My point was to disclose issues, explain what those issues mean to the client,(results if not corrected) and how urgent  repair or replacement is.  Just keep things in perspective.

Explain and educate don't go around scaring the crap out of people.

Cheers

Doug,
Thanks and I agree with no need to scare the crap out of people.

I have an example to share.  I performed a home inspection for a professional football player.  He was buying a 10000 sq ft house with his new signing bonus and someone suggested to him that he get 2 inspections by 2 different inspection companies. The home was 8 months old, built for the builder, stucco exterior, tile roof and every imaginable upgrade to the interior to include a 80k light fixture in the foyer.  Anyways, as we go along I talk with him about the usual do's and don't s like caulking, grout touch up yada yada.  My report had about 2 pages of minor maintenance type stuff included in the summary along with some broken roof tiles.  The next inspection company came in the next day and had 17 pages of just summary. Wonder if they were needling the place? I think this goes along with what your saying. 

My favorite phrases with clients are, "a used home is like a used car, we just need to make sure that the maintenance has been kept up and there are no major issues".  The other is "it's better to be proactive rather than reactive when it comes to maintaining the home".

V/R,
Rob

Does silicon exterior fixtures make the summary report? Its a California building code. If I called out a city building offical to inspect my house before he issued a CofO and the lights were not sealed then I would fail the inspection.