Buyer Present During Inspection

[Frank Vetter]

Are most of you guys doing inspections with the buyer (or someone else) there the entire time? Are you OK with no one being present even if the house is occupied? I've found some inspectors refuse to enter an occupied house or do the inspection unless someone is there the entire time (liability thing). Just wondering what policies you have put in place.

Thanks,
Frank Vetter

[David Macy]

Frank

I would say 99% of the time either the listing or buying agent are present.

If it is a sale by owner or pre-listing the owner or buyer would be present.

The only time I am alone are vacant homes or out of town buyers. It is rare I inspect a home and no one is there.

Recently I did a house and only the seller was present. She left about half way through for an appointment. She was older and an agent should of been present.

It is best to have someone present when inspecting.

[Robert Jones]

I normally have whoever is hiring me for the inspection present along with their representative agent.  I have, over the last 7 yrs, had quite a few listing agents present because they feel they need to control the "situation".  They are easy to handle.  I do get some out of state clients which does not allow them to be present, but their realtor always is.  My preference is that the client be present during the inspection.  Far less follow up phone calls and explanations.

Rob
BrickKicker Inspection Services

[Jay Markanich]

I always like someone present, particularly the buyer.  I would never do an inspection when the seller is present and NOT the buyer.  The buyer is the process and the inspection should be informational and educational.  Plus, it gives me a chance to interact, so future questions are easier to field and since we have developed a relationship they will likely call back in the future.  I get a lot of call backs.

Recently I have done a few inspections on empty houses for investors who are not present or out of town.  But, when the house is empty, the liability is much less.  It does make the report a bit more difficult when no one is there - you have to be more informational...  exactly where this or that is, which side of the house, etc.

[William R. DeVries]

I am there to inspect the house, i really couldn't give a rip if the owner is standing there. If they start to eyeball me to much I do the " how am I gonna explain this " statement loud enough to hear me in my mumbling fashion and that gets them in a tivy and usually run to the phone to call the agentm it gives me room and I keep going along my merry way.
Lots of my clients are rom other proviences (states) so they are unable to be present some send the buyers agent there but they are mostly on the phone at the kitchen table doing business and ask when i come in to tap on the puter, hows it going, When my clients are there I conduct my talk n teach  and do my thing along the way, I give the misses a tape measure and note pad to size up windows for drapes, I give him a notepad to write what he finds and wants answered to keep him from asking everythime i tap something on puter, as for theft I dont steal so it's a mute point.
If the client does then its the agents problem.