City Home Inspections

[John Adrian Sopher]

I just read an article about one town I service is going to require all home buyers to get a home inspection.  The inspection will be performed by the city at a cost of $40.

http://www.koco.com/news/17500822/detail.html

The idea is great for what they are trying to do, but it really undercuts us as inspectors.  I guess I can look at the positive side of things, I don't have to worry about inspected 60-70 year old trashed out houses!!!     Down side is, what city is next?

[Dominic Maricic]

Is this a full inspection or a quick code inspection like the city does for new buildings?

[John Adrian Sopher]

The article mentioned plumbing and electrical.  I'm not sure of what all it entails to be honest.

[Dominic Maricic]

"Del City has hired a full-time inspector for the program. It will be put into effect sometime after the new year."

Must be one small city. They hired ONE full time inspector? It looks like a basic 10 minute insurance type inspection. Check out major systems. Pass/Fail.

[John Adrian Sopher]

Yeah Del City isn't that big.  It's intertwined with Mid West City and everyone calls it Mid-Del.  Its an old town too.  The only reason people still live there is Tinker AFB.  And there's no way for it to grow anymore due to its surrounding area's.

I hope nobody here reads this, but Mid-Del are the least important towns on my list.

[Jay Markanich]

Heah 'tis -- "the city will come out to inspect" - you get what you pay for...

And "a full-time inspector for the program" -- one guy for all city inspections?

I'd love to see his product!

Here's how you fight back - get a copy of one of his "reports."  Find a way, newspaper article, op-ed, whatever, to compare his product to your product.  Make the point that price is the allocator of scarce resources and that rarity demands a higher price - you charge a higher price because your product is unimpeachable, complete, high quality and provided by a certified inspector who answers directly and only to the client.  Your time is scarce and your service is personal.

Tell them not to compare apples and oranges, or, in your case, diamonds!

[John Adrian Sopher]

lol look at you, callin me a diamond.  Don't tell my girl, she'd knock my head off mount it on a ring and say look at my bling bling.  lol

[Dominic Maricic]

hahaha

[Jay Markanich]

Your product and his product are probably like comparing diamonds and Kingsford charcoal briquettes...   you get what I mean.

But you are a diamond too!  As to the bling, if you buy a diamond for yourself, it is an investment and a family heirloom.  You buy one for her it is a, um, necessity...  oh, and try to avoid the $40 diamonds...

[John Adrian Sopher]

Oh no worries, she already has the diamonds.  My friend owns a jewelry store, so I got the good ones!  Its funny you talk about them being an heirloom.  He uses a pitch like that in his store.  When I was there getting the ring, one lady came in and looked at a diamond ring that was $150000!  He told me he would sell me the diamond in the ring for $80000!  I cant even emagine having that kind of loose pocket change for a $150k ring.

[Dominic Maricic]

Too small, too easy to lose.

It would be interesting to see what one of these $40 inspection reports look like. The city could be supplementing his pay but who knows. Unless there's 3 sales max a day there's no way he's doing a full report. Even then he'd have to work 7 days a week.

[John Adrian Sopher]

I'm curious to see these reports also.  I'm also curious to know, since they are calling them home inspections, is this person an Oklahoma licensed home inspector?  Is he following state laws on home inspections (not if they are only doing two systems)?  If the inspector isn't a licensed home inspector he better be licensed plumber and electrician and stick with those two area's.  I doubt they would have both licenses though, one of those licenses is difficult enough to get not to mention both of them.

[Jay Markanich]

That'sa what Ia wasa sayin' ina my posta 321 abova...

[John Adrian Sopher]

Yeah but it wouldn't be any fun if we didn't talk in circles about the same stuff!  lol

[John Adrian Sopher]

I just got off the phone with Del City Code enforcement office.  The inspections are going to occur every time someone moves into a house when they get their utilities turned on.  They are going to be more of a code inspection for the house, more in depth than a home inspector would do.  The goal is to get rid of the slum lords and the do it yourselfers and start to raise the quality of the home in that area.

[William R. DeVries]

there is gonna be alot of pissed off people come months end and this inspector is a few houses behind and people are waiting with a moving van at the door to unload the truck and this yahoo fails to inspect, I can see the city being sued for this , agravation and greif, kids homeless for a day or two till they get in, extra cost of motels, wowzers, what a spoof this is gonna be

[John Adrian Sopher]

Ya, I don't see how they are going to do it with only one inspector.  He said they did have a supervisor!!!  lol

[Jay Markanich]

City planners.......

[Dominic Maricic]

A supervisor for the 1 inspectors. Good planning!

[John Adrian Sopher]

Oh ya! You cant work for the city, state, or Fed without someone pointing!!!  And you know its a big operation when you have someone supervising the guy who is pointing to the guy who is working.  Oh and don't forget about the other workers that are standing around watching the one person do all the work.

If you think I'm kidding, go watch a road crew sometime.  lol