Does anyone other than me remember the RE/MAX home inspection commercial from a couple of years ago? The Realtor was flying over a house in the RE/MAX balloon, and the sellers yelled up: "How'd we do?" The Realtor yells down, "Your house passed."

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

I believe ASHI, NACHI, and CREIA (California) all sent letters to RE/MAX about how that commercial did not do anything to help either RE/MAX or the home inspection industry.

By the way, Alea sent me many faxes about the property she was buying and I helped her sort things out. I recommended that she have a home inspection done by Jeff Pope in Santa Clarita, and she and Jeff got together. I followed up each month through the end of the year to see how Alea was doing. She was happy with Jeff and me, and they did buy the condominium.

what Does this mean? are you saying that it is ok for an agent to pick the inspector; or to RECCOMMEND inspector ?

Were you part of this deal. I am am obviously new to this forum. and Do not really understand the point of this post. I don't reall follow remax, so you know more than me there.

Is this forum a commercial for Jeff Pope. Sounds like the inspection folks have their tail feathers ruffled. Just do the right thing- no probleam, Alea, CA is 100 percent right. the Moderator seems to be on the side of the inspector right or wrong, this blog, post forum or whatever it is seems to be a PLUG for home inspection, I do reccommend them because my insurance company says I have to but as an experienced Broker Owner, I have NO faith in the accuracy or accountibility of Home Inspection, whether they are NICE people or NOT.

Not a part of the deal. I simply responded to Alea and tried to help her. According to her, I was successful in helping her.

I don't follow RE/MAX either, per sé, but their commercial was on television for the whole world to see, and I don't think it did a service to either RE/MAX, Realtors in general, the real estate industry, the home inspection industry, or home inspectors in general.

Also know that lawsuits for negligent referrals are few and far between. However, even one is one too many, which is my almost every home inspector who carries E&O insurance (and, unfortunately in my opinion, that is only about half of us) automatically has a Realtor indemnity clause in that insurance. Most E&O providers (and there aren't many to begin with) automatically provide such a clause.

Read the whole thread, Ten Lakes Realty. Sounds like you have your tail feathers in a ruffle. It's sounded that way from your very first post, but I refrained from saying anything. I offered to help Alea, and I did, to her satisfaction, as you'll see if you continue reading the thread. I recommended Jeff because he was in her area. He also helped her, as you will also see if you'll continue reading.

Since this is such an old thread, perhaps it might help you if you read the whole thread before commenting on any individual post.

I'm sorry you have a poor opinion of home inspectors. There are horror stories in all industries, and we have our share of horrible Realtors, so we can go tit for tat if you want to.

Lawsuits are few and far between because the buyers do not want the stress or the money drain, they feel they have no rights or recourse. The real estate industry intimidates people into thinking they have no rights. More lawsuits need to play out in the court to give the power back to the buyers. Sellers sometimes lie, inspectors miss things, lots of things. Barrie, in this post sounds like he wants to and is doing the right thing. Most do Not. And Nachi, or Nahi or Wohoo or whatever accredidation someone has does not make them honest, reliable, knowledgable and accountible. Buyers really have no rights, and lawsuits are long, expensive and hard to get justice, no matter how right you are.

Also know that lawsuits for negligent referrals are few and far between. However, even one is one too many, which is my almost every home inspector who carries E&O insurance (and, unfortunately in my opinion, that is only about half of us) automatically has a Realtor indemnity clause in that insurance. Most E&O providers (and there aren't many to begin with) automatically provide such a clause. [/QB][/QUOTE]

Maybe in Montana. So perhaps such summary statements are not in the best interest of those reading this thread. My attorneys report to me quarterly on the number of Realtor- and home inspector-related lawsuits here in San Diego County. 312 in the last quarter of 2006. That's not few and far between. None of them, however, involved negligent referral. They are for fraud, negligence, and incompetence.

Again, perhaps you could do well to move to a different state where the real estate industry is not so intimidating to people.

Buyers sure seem to have power here in California.

If we're going to play tit for tat, we should also mention that Realtors also lie. After all, they are after a fat commission paycheck, and having a home inspector point out lots of problems or having to disclose problems usually lowers the selling price, sometimes taking a nice chunk out of that commission check.

Perhaps most do not in Montana, but having been both a Realtor and a home inspector, I believe that most do. I also believe that most Realtors want to help. But it's the group that is not part of "most" that causes problems for everyone.

Russell,
I recall the ReMax commercial but fail to see how it did any disservice to ReMax, Realtors in General, the real estate industry or home inspectors or the home inspection industry as a whole.

As for Ten Lakes and his lawsuit theory I think it is offbase. There are on average few buyer brought lawsuits simply because they are Very hard to prove. When I sold residential I always pushed my sellers to get a pre-inspection to get everything out in the open. I would include it and any proof of repairs in the property book for all potential buyers to see. I was getting about 75% of my sellers to do the pre-inspection. That is the way to eliminate any shadow of nondisclosure.

Home inspectors didn't think it was appropriate for a national brokerage to be telling sellers in a nationwide commercial that their home passed a home inspection. Homes don't pass or fail inspections, and inspectors don't pass or fail homes. Inspections are simply a documentation of the condition of the property at a specific point in time. There is no A, B, C, D, or F, and thus no passing or failing. To suggest otherwise, I believe, is, indeed, a disservice to everyone involved.

I have met a few homes that committed suicide. LOL

Actually there is a Pass or Fail. If the Buyers buys the house it is a Pass and if the buyer backs out based on what is discovered in the home inspection then it would be a Fail!

I think you and the other home inspectors are being a little anal saying that disservice was done by that commercial!

Paul, That does not mean a home inspector passes a house or fails it. That statement is incorrect. What a home inspector should do is to have in writing items he feels needs attention on the house. THAT IS ALL! He should never make the comment it passes or fails.
Actually I have had two inspection in the past two years where I have been told to "close the book, I am done. Here is the money, I am not buying this house"
Is this what you consider a "fail?" In one, while I was inspecting their house, they went next door to an open house and decided on the spot to purchase it. The inspection is simply an out for people, if they want one. Just as I always use "suitable financing" for my out. Would you say I failed to get financing?
As Russell stated his confidence in someone he knew, this was his way of trying to help the buyer. Do you wonder what he got paid? Nothing!
Now if he was doing this as a way of getting a kickback, and there are agents and home inspectors that have been caught in thes scams, it makes everyone look bad.
I think all who tried to input some help should be goven credit and everyone should keep trying their best to make both of our professions look better.
No matter what anyone says, realtors and home inspectors are in this bed together. NOw lets all just cozy up!

"NOw lets all just cozy up! "
Interesting you say that. I do understand what you are implying, however, there are people who would like to see the inspection industry separate from the RE industry and not under the umbrella or in the same regulatory branch as the RE sector. Maybe they should be under the building and construction regulatory agency?
Some states do have them distinctly separated from the RE umbrella, therefore preserving the the separation and possible influence by that industry.
What is the inspections industries feeling about the perceived conflict of interest between them and realtors and do they think they should have more distance between them by being under a different regulatory agency such as building and construction oversight?

I know this is an old post, but its still here and i cant resist. 9,000 members does not make NACHI important. it does not take much to be a member from what i have heard. there Are a lot more member in the National [censored]-ociation of Realtors and they certainly have a very high percentage of unethical practics by Realtors. yes I am a Realtor, i am obviously discouraged because the Truth and honesty I have tried to bring to real estate has been stomped on by the good ol' boys club and i cannot find a way to make these realtors tell the truth. i have had some deals turn very bad because inspectors NACHi cerified have not found MAJOR problems. I hope that you respect your Inspectors badge but most do not. certified is just a BIG word and a big title.

http://www.TenLakesRealty.net

"National [censored]-ociation of Realtors and they certainly have a very high percentage of unethical practics by Realtors. yes I am a Realtor, i am obviously discouraged because the Truth and honesty I have tried to bring to real estate has been stomped on by the good ol' boys club and i cannot find a way to make these realtors tell the truth."
May I suggest to get involved in your board association at the local level, that's where you can start to make a difference. You obviously are not happy with what is going on around you, be pro-active and change things.

Barrie Inspector,
Try to focus and stick with me on this. You are replying to the post regarding the ReMax commercial.

The agent in the commercial is telling their client/seller that their house Passed the inpection contingency. We are NOT talking about an INSPECTOR telling the seller ANYTHING! Do you understand Now?


Regarding your "suitable financing" line. If I were the seller or the sellers agent you would have to do better that "suitable". That is why there are those blanks for terms on the financing contingency and if someone puts something far outside the norm I would address it in the counter.