Pat Starnes' Snippets: September 2009

I represent a seller who's home recently went under contract. The sales agreement is contingent upon a satisfactory home inspection, a common stipulation.

The report was sent to me via e-mail. Usually the repair list is summarized within the report and I can print a one or two page summary that addresses the primary issues/repairs. Unfortunately, the report was lengthy and I couldn't find the summary. To save myself time and eyestrain, I hit the print button on my computer so I could carry the report with me for later review.

Since the house was 35 years old, the seller and I expected there would be repair issues, along with some minor wear and tear. Imagine my surprise when I discovered the home inspection report was 69 pages long! Really! SIXTY NINE pages!

The report contained 147 photos. While reviewing the report, I did notice a summary, which included duplicates of the aforementioned photographs.

My home inspector friends might object to my critique, but this post is not meant as a personal attack. Home inspectors offer a valuable service. And if I represented the buyer side of this transaction, I might feel differently. But a sixty-nine page report seems excessive, in my humble opinion.

The real problem with the report, despite it's length, was that it was difficult to extract the issues! Many of the photos were taken, I believe, to CYA or to justify the cost of the inspection. There were numerous plumbing and electrical issues addressed (multiple times throughout), duplicate photographs, duplicate commentary, etc.

Fortunately, the buyer and seller are behaving professionally and each want a mutually acceptable resolution to the home inspection, so this house WILL close. However, if the buyer wanted to be a snoot about it, there could be a different outcome.

What do you think? Could a sixty-nine page report kill the deal? Hopefully, it won't kill THIS one!

Last week in preparation for several closings, I coined a phrase "the real estate dance" because of all the last minute hurdles, struggles, and documents that MUST be obtained mere moments before closing.

If a closing goes smoothly, happens as scheduled, without any glitches, (impeccably choreographed) then everyone from the lender, appraiser, attorney, inspectors, Realtor, AND the buyer has performed their duties as expected.

If a closing is delayed, someone failed to do their job. It's frustrating, yet humorous to watch the finger-pointing begin when there is a delay.

As a real estate professional, I've taken my "dance lessons" and know each step by heart. Everyone in the closing process has a role to play. I do my job and expect others to do theirs. But instead of "assuming" the lender, inspector, appraiser, etc. will do their jobs, I follow-up and communicate with everyone to be sure there are no surprises.

But I can't MAKE someone do their job. I cannot force a buyer to deliver his/her documents to the lender on time, nor can I strong-arm a lender to submit the closing documents to the attorneys office 24 hours before closing.

My readers might suggest that if I'm having difficulty with a particular service provider, I shouldn't use their services anymore. Period. That's a valid point. But in some cases, "you have to dance with the one that brought you". Realtors can make recommendations, but our clients, as well as the folks on the other side of the transaction, have free-will to choose. Once that choice is made, it is my job to professionally and skillfully work with the service providers to bring the transaction to a successful close.

I could make a campy joke about my dance card not being full, or that my dancing shoes are ready for the next waltz. Instead, I'll leave you with this thought...

"Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like no-one is watching"...Alfred D. Sousa