Recently I performed an inspection on a property for a good client of mine who is one of the nicest people I have met. She hired me to do a job, but also to help her uncover things that may cost her money, as well as, may impede the enjoyment of the property. As a certified professional Boise home inspector, my job is NOT to ensure the home passes so that there will be a closing. My job during the home inspection is too find defects and concerns and report those finding to my client, who in turn will make the decisions on what to do with those findings. I do not make the decisions for my clients, nor should I "sugercoat" items that may be of concern to a client.
     Now that I have stated my position, the details of the issue deals with the Thermal Infrared Imaging I conduct with each home inspection as a courtesy to my clients. I believe this technology offers a unique insight into those items that are not clearly visible during the home inspection process. So unless the home inspector has infrared eyes himself, not everything is as "obvious" as some home inspectors state. The recent inspection involved me using Infrared and uncovering areas of the insulation in bedrooms, and the living room, which were less than the other areas of the home. Yes, this can happen! The differential was not that severe, around 5 degree variation. So I let the buyer know that these areas may feel a little cooler on especially cold days, but that the levels are not out of the rhelm of normal. Other than pumping additional insulation into the wall not much could be done. Not much more needed to be said. The buyer decided she wanted this to be addressed by the seller. Ok! the home is only 5 years old and may be under a manufacturer warranty since they did not get the insulation even. I told her this may need to be taken up with the builder to see if anything could be done.
     So, I get a call from the buyer Realtor. She wants to go over some of the items on the report. No problem!. She then proceeds to let me know that her client wants the seller to make most of the repairs we discussed including the areas of low insulation. She then said that I did not do a good job with the buyer because some buyers need to be "reassured" about things and not everything needs to be an issue.. What? But she was not telling me how to do my job! Oh yes you are! You are saying your buyer is not intelligent enough to make her own decisions and does not know what is best for her. Clients do NOT need Reassurance, they need honesty. They can make informed decisions. They can decide for themselves what is something they can live with or do not want to live with. I DO NOT MAKE THAT DECISION, nor should I try and influence it one way or the other. I need to remain neutral as should the Realtor. The Realtors job and duty is too their cleint, not the closing table paycheck. Yes, times are tough, but so is buying something and regreting it later. Some Idaho home inspectors choose not use thermal infrared with their inspections. That is their choice. Maybe it is too avoid conflict with their referring Realtor so they do not make waves, I do not know! But what I can say is that never will I compromise my integrity or dudiligence to my client for a referral. The renogotiation part is up to the Realtor and Buyer and is a reality for their profession. If they do not like to have to renegotiate, then try another profession!