| Being a home inspector is great. It's fun, it's | | | | climb just do not appear physically able to make the |
| interesting, and I get to meet wonderful people. I | | | | ascent. If it does not look safe to me, they are |
| know exactly what to do during a home inspection. | | | | staying on the ground. |
| But what should the homebuyer be doing during the | | | | A few times people have objected to being told to |
| home inspection? | | | | remain on the ground. Some have even insisted that |
| In my mind, the primary responsibility of the | | | | this is their inspection, they are paying me, and they |
| homebuyer during the home inspection is to observe | | | | will climb if they choose to. They are then are told |
| and to listen. By watching the routine of the | | | | that it is my ladder and I decide who climbs it. I have |
| inspector, the homebuyer will gain a comfort with the | | | | also not yet been paid for my services. I simply and |
| home as well as the inspection process. The | | | | calmly explain that if they would like to play the "I'm |
| inspector has the opportunity to present to and | | | | not paying" card, I can play my trump card, called |
| discuss with the homebuyer all the many aspects of | | | | "I'm not inspecting". This is rare, but does get us all |
| each component and system in the home. The goal is | | | | back to our proper places! |
| to have no issues looming after the inspection. | | | | Walking on roofs is all well and good, but nothing |
| That being said, active participation in the home | | | | separates the bold from the meek in the arena of |
| inspection is always a good thing. I love participation! | | | | home inspection participation quite like the subject of |
| How much participation and by whom is an often | | | | crawling in crawl spaces! |
| debated question. Depending on an individual's role in | | | | Florida is a wonderful place to live. Sunshine, beautiful |
| the transaction - buyer, seller, agent, or other | | | | beaches, and a lifestyle that most of the rest of |
| interested party - the intentions, interest, and | | | | North America can only dream of. It is the quest for |
| involvement vary widely. | | | | that good life that attracts millions of tourists every |
| A sure fire test to tell how committed someone is to | | | | year as well as tens of thousands of new residents. |
| the participation process is by asking who would like | | | | But some residents of Florida, the ones found in |
| to go onto the roof. Many of my home inspector | | | | crawl spaces, can bring fear to the heart of the |
| buddies cringe when I speak of home buyers or | | | | bravest! |
| agents climbing roofs with me. However, with some | | | | Traveling about the country to numerous home |
| good judgment and a few precautions, it turns out | | | | inspector events has provided me much in the way |
| just fine. | | | | of education and perspective on the business of |
| The fun begins when I ask, "Okay, who would like to | | | | home inspecting. But whenever my peers discover I |
| get high with me?" If anyone looks too enthused, I | | | | live and inspect in Florida, the subject always turns to |
| get a little nervous thinking that they must have | | | | critters and creatures in crawl spaces. With their eyes |
| misinterpreted my question. But, after a moment, | | | | the size of grapefruits, I can keep them mesmerized |
| most all recognize that it is time for the roof | | | | with my many tales. Those would be opossum tales, |
| inspection. No better way to inspect a roof than to | | | | snake tales, and gator tales! |
| climb up and walk around! Every now and then, a | | | | They way these guys are captivated by the idea of |
| home has a walk out balcony that lets us hop the rail | | | | an inspector crawling on his belly under a home in |
| and stride smartly to the peak. But more often than | | | | Florida makes me feel like Marlin Perkins from the old |
| not, it is up the ladder we go. | | | | television show "Wild Kingdom". I can recall being |
| The truth of it all is that less than 20% of | | | | about eight years old listening to Marlin narrate, "Jim |
| homebuyers will venture up the ladder to stroll their | | | | will now wrestle the deadly 25 foot anaconda". Then |
| roof. And of that group, about half are wearing | | | | Jim, dressed in khaki shorts, shirt and a pair of lace |
| inappropriate shoes or clothing for the ladder climb. | | | | up boots, would proceed into the jungle marsh to risk |
| Relatively small portions of those who choose to | | | | life and limb while Marlin kept on filming and narrating. |