"Home Inspectors Are Just Placebos"

[Jay Markanich]

It was a phone call from a concerned, potential, client.  He is building a new townhouse.  A friend told him to hire a roofer to make sure that rubber was put between his roof and the houses next to his.

Yes, that puzzled me too.

I told him that step flashing and some form of counter flashing, even if it was vinyl siding, is an appropriate transition between roof and sides.  And that I had never heard of using rubber.  But, "I can check that flashing for you.  You really don't need a roofer.  In fact, a roofer is going to charge you almost as much as I will for a complete home inspection."  Asking my price, he confirmed that.

He set up an inspection.  "But, I might be calling you back because I want to check one more thing."

He called back.  "I'm no longer going to need your services."

"Well, you're the boss," I said, "but why not?"

"Because I am told you home inspectors are just placebos."

Suppressing a laugh, honestly, I needed to pursue this one!  "Sir, that is the first time I have heard that one!  Please, explain!"

"Well, you almost never find anything.  And when you do, the builder won't fix it anyway because they build everything to code and won't change that."

I am REALLY amused at this point and wouldn't want to do his inspection anyway, but this was too good.  Now I am laughing. "Who in the world told you that?!"

"THE SALES LADY IN THE BUILDER'S OFFICE."

That's right!  The sales lady.  The sales lady!!  Miss Information herself!!  (Read that misinformation...)

"Sir, I am going to bet you did not have a pre-drywall inspection, am I right?"

"I didn't need one.  The builder gave me a walk through."

During the conversation I found out what he did for a living.  This is a very intelligent person.  But, CLEARLY, not at all smart in this regard!  Here is someone who CLEARLY doesn't know what he doesn't know.  He is listening to a friend who CLEARLY doesn't know what he doesn't know.  He is listening to his builder who CLEARLY doesn't want him to know what he doesn't know.

AND I AM A "PLACEBO..."  How do you spell Aaaaaarggghhh?  Is that close enough?  I could say more, but I will leave this as polite as I can.


My recommendation:  Don't call a placebo.  Call a home inspector.  Call an objective, independent home inspector.  Call one with experience.  Call one who stays current with annual continuing education (I usually do 35-40 hours annually).  And call one who wants you to know what you don't know.

For sure you won't be calling one of these pills below.

[David Macy]

Bad advice from the sales lady and friend.

Mistake from the buyer. His is missing out on not having the inspection.

Not sure about the Placebo reference.

[William R. DeVries]

sounds like a strong placebo, enough to be someones  PITA
LOLOLOLOL

[Davin Strand]

Take two of these and call me in the morning or don't call when you finally find out what you didn't know....

[Jay Markanich]

Fer sher...

[Gary Fitzgerald]

Cost estimates of what ?

[Jay Markanich]

Dave, placebos make you feel better psychologically but they don't really do anything for you.  That's was the sales lady was saying home inspectors are.

What do you mean by cost estimates Gary?

[Gary Fitzgerald]

I don't know ) I was reading about a guy giving cost estimates with his inspections and the phone rang and the post ended up here, the mind is the first to go

[David Macy]

Giving cost estimates is a bad idea, just recently read a story about an inspector who qouted 20K, turned out to be closer to 200K.  Guess who paid the differance.

This is why I recommend further evaluation, most of the time I know how to fix, solve the problem but the costs of repairs varies.

Thanks for the explaination of the Placebos!!

[Dennis R Goudreau]

well if we are placebos then what are the builders ,like you I have seen new construction or 10 year old construction that made me want to take paxil