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Carver Communications - Index

Carver Communications - 4.1.09 - Index

During the weeks of March 3rd
through the 12th, the San Antonio
Board of REALTORS® held the first
quarter Town Hall meeting series for
2009 at seven different locations in
the city. Members who attended the
meetings gained insight into what is
happening at SABOR, TAR and NAR,
and learned about issues that are
affecting the real estate industry.
Additionally, members learned about
inspection rules and processes that
have been added or changed for
inspections done in 2009 and how the
industry is dealing with the new standards
set forth. Scott Emerson,
licensed real estate inspector from
Scott’s Inspections, gave a free onehour
MCE presentation about these
guidelines and how REALTORS® can
better inform clients of what to
expect during the inspection process.
During each presentation, Scott
talked about the new operating procedures
and report forms that were put
By Florence Terrell
Chairman, San Antonio Board of REALTORS®
Town Hall Recap – What you
need to know about Inspections
into effect February 1st, 2009.
Specifically, there is a new inspection
report form called the REI 7A-1.
This can be found on the TREC web
site and was formally called the 7A-0
form. This form is used to provide
the inspector’s opinions and findings
and can be used to better educate a
client of what to expect during an
inspection. Within this form, the
word “deficiency” has been used in
place of the phrase “In need of
repair”. Deficiency is defined as “a
condition that, in the inspector’s reasonable
opinion, adversely and materially
affects the performance of a
system of component or constitutes a
hazard to life, limb or property as
specified by these standards of practice.”
In addition to the new form and
definition, Scott talked about how
inspectors are only required to
inspect those areas of a property that
are considered safely accessible.
April, 1 2009 REAL ESTATE NEWSLINE 3
Under this claim, inspectors are only
required to use a ladder if inspecting
attics or roofs, and they are not
required to use specialized tools or
procedures, such as gas detectors or
thermal imaging equipment. Scott
made sure to emphasize that an
inspection should not be considered a
“catch-all” procedure. “Some things
will be missed,” Scott said.
Scott was very thorough in
describing what kinds of scenarios
would be considered deficient and
talked about specific deficiencies in
plumbing, electrical, structural systems
and fire safety. Through all of
these examples, Scott emphasized
that REALTORS® should help reduce
clients’ expectations by explaining to
them the process of the inspection.
He mentioned that one of the best
ways to help a client understand the
process is to say “If there are major
things wrong with the house, the
inspector will find them,” instead of
saying, “Don’t worry, the inspector
will find everything.”
To further help inspectors do
their job efficiently and to keep the
client safe, Scott suggested thinking
about who should attend the inspection.
He discouraged the attendance
of children and people outside of the
buyer(s) and the REALTOR®. Many
times, while the inspector is going
through the property, others who
attend may try to fix several of the
labeled deficiencies to possibly offset
the cost of the inspection or repairs.
Scott also suggested it would be a
good idea for the REALTOR® to
come so that he or she would be able
to answer questions from the buyer
about the property as the inspection is
conducted.
Additionally, Scott said that
one of the most important things to
do during an inspection is to keep a
client safe. Explaining to them what
to expect may help with this, but
Scott mentioned it is important for
the client to allow the inspector to
complete what he/she needs to do. It
is difficult for the inspector to have to
worry about the client following
him/her to certain areas in the property
that may be unsafe. This is where
the REALTOR® can help by tending
to the client. Scott also mentioned it
is important to not negotiate repairs
at the inspection, but to instead rely
on the report that is written by the
inspector to determine what repairs
are needed. What is said at the
inspection may be different than what
is written on the report, and for this
reason, it is important to not rewrite
an inspector’s comments in case
details are mistranslated or left out.
For more information about
inspections and the processes and
rules that must be followed, you may
contact Scott Emerson at 210-342-
8801 or at scott@sainspections.com.
You can also find photos and information
about the Town Hall meetings
at SABOR.com.