TOPIC: condo Inspection

How long do you take to do a condo inspection?  I don't do the external or attic since those are owned by the association and my price reflects that.  But man, I seem to be able to zip through some of these one and two bedroom places in no time.  (I make sure and tell people upfront it doesn't include the external and that if they want that done then I bump up the price some).

Why not? You should be doing the attic and roof. If the roof or attic looks horrible the client should know that the HOA needs to fix the issues asap before the owners move in. Just because it's the HOA that needs to fix it instead of the seller doesn't make it any less important!

True but it all about what the client wants.  And 9 out of 10 times the client isn't willing to pay that extra $75. 

They will pay it, if it's NOT an "option". There aren't many "condo's" in my immediate area, but I still do a few every year. I charge them the same as a townhome. There really is NO difference in my view. I have one price, based upon sq. ft., including the exterior and accessible attic space. I don't care what the HOA is responsible for. If it affects the unit, it gets inspected and reported upon. If my client doesn't want it inspected, I still charge the same fee.

Hopefully "Condo" Bob Elliott will see this thread and jump in with his viewpoint.

Btw... I know your market very well. I lived in Vancouver for 19 years up to 2006. Your market WILL support paying your full fee. You may need to tweak your 'style'.

9 times out of ten ?
Most people will not expect you to be adding fees to what should be included anyway.

Factor looking at issues rather than ignoring them if you care about your client.
You sail through and have no problem so do you reduce the fee on those as well ?

Most Inspectors enjoy finding issues that effect property evaluation Doug and why would you intentionally avoid looking.
How about limited common areas such as a back porch ?
Do you not mention it is ready to collapse unless they fork over another $75.
Get rel here.
Start looking at listings before you quote and learn to set expectations but do not tell clients you will do a better job for more money.
That is just ridiculous.

Any experienced Inspector quotes a fee and figures common area time in that fee.
The amount of time if any at all spent on common areas depends on the property.

These buyers will pay assessments and are part owner of the building but you would ignore that ?

Just have a disclaimer that you are looking as a courtesy if you are worried about liability but please do a good job.

Bob,
It's very bold for you to imply I intentionally ignore problems and don't care about my clients.  It's too bad I asked a question with the intent of getting some more information (since most people who ask questions care and are interested in improving their knowledge/skill set/ etc...) and instead got taken to the woodshed (in a "public" manner) without the benefit of the doubt or even inquiring a bit more on a private communication level (easy enough to google my business and give me a call or send me a personal email). 

**And of course I'd say something if I saw it***

I understand what you and probably others are saying.  Yet, as a consumer I want choices when I purchase products or services.  So in my opinion this boils down to a business decision not an ethical issue.  Here is an analogy. 
Let's say auto service shop "A" has a: tire rotation and alignment for $100 and tire shop "B" has tire rotation and alignment for $100 and they also have alignments only for $80 (common knowledge is that it's a good idea of get tires rotated after alignment since they wear differently and if tires are not rotated they can go bad quicker...safety issue).

Now I come into the shop and only want an alignment, I do not want my tires rotated.  So I ask shop "A" if they will do my alignment only for $80 and they say "no" because "We only do them together since tire wear changes and it could be a safety issue if the tires wear differently.  I say back to shop "A" that I just bought new tires at Tire King but they don't do alignments since they specialize in tires only they offer great deals.  In fact I just got these tires 15 min ago so I don't need them rotated.  Shop "A" says: "sorry it will be $100 regardless."  I would be heading over to shop "B" and saving my $20.  (I would stay at Shop "A" if they said "ok, we'll customize your service and charge you $80).

Now I would expect shop "B" to tell me it's best practice to rotate tires.  I would also expect both shops to tell me if they see something wrong with my breaks or if they hear an odd sound from the engine But I would not expect them to take break shoes off or open the engine block to look. 

It could be argued that a tire rotation and alignment "should" always be done together.  However; I would not call either shop unethical, uncaring or intentionally avoiding anything if they chose to do it one way or the other.  Everything was communicated up front and it is then the clients choice as to what service level they desire. 

So disagree, give a different option, play devils advocate all you like (that's why I post questions in the first place because I want to hear what others say...maybe I will change my mind and most times I do learn something).  But in the future I would appreciate having a private conversation before being openly accused of; not caring about clients, not enjoying finding problems, intentionally avoiding looking, not being experienced, not doing a quality job unless someone is willing to "fork over another $75," and not doing a good job.