Standing Out in Ohio Podcast
Listen and learn how some stand out from competition and gain market share. Information helpful to agents and buyers. Conversations with professionals and entrepreneurs regarding their stories and what makes their companies and themselves stand out and gain competitive advantages. Listen to stories from Ohio real estate agents and related businesses to help you know how to improve and who to consider using for yourself or friends. Created by the owners of a highly rated home inspection company in Ohio and the Winners of Best Home Inspection Company in the Midwest https://homeinspectionsinohio.com/
Standing Out in Ohio Podcast
Become a Savvy Agent with Essential Home Inspection Knowledge
This episode discusses the critical importance of understanding home inspections for both buyers and sellers in real estate transactions. Jim and Laura highlight common misconceptions agents make, the role of confidentiality in reports, and the expectations for all parties involved.
• Importance of agents understanding home inspection processes
• Handling and documenting client complaints effectively
• Confidentiality laws and proper use of inspection reports
• Common misunderstandings between agents and inspectors
• Ohio Revised Code and what home inspectors are bound to examine
• Preparing buyers and sellers for the inspection process
• The importance of ongoing education for real estate professionals
• Insights from experiences in over two decades in Ohio's real estate market
To learn more about Habitation Investigation, the Two-time Winner of the Best Home Inspection Company in the Midwest Plus the Winner of Consumer Choice Award for Columbus Ohio visit Home Inspection Columbus Ohio - Habitation Investigation (homeinspectionsinohio.com)
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For home buyers: What to expect from a home inspection. YT video for home buyers
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If you would like to be a guest on the podcast contact us and let us know. You can visit Home (jimtroth.com) and go to the podcast page or message Habitation Investigation.
Welcome to the Standing Out in Ohio podcast, where we discuss topics, upcoming events, news and predictions with real estate professionals and entrepreneurs. Listen and learn what makes their companies and themselves stand out and gain advantages over the competition and gain market share. Subscribe for the latest news and discussion on what it takes to stand out from the crowd. Now here's your host, jim.
Speaker 2:Hey everybody, Welcome to the Standing Out and Out Podcast. This is Jim, and with me, of course, is Laura, the Office Goddess.
Speaker 3:Hello everyone.
Speaker 2:So, all right. What is this? It's February now.
Speaker 3:February 3rdrd is the holy man time we're recording this.
Speaker 2:So we had I mean, I, if I was a real estate agent, I would really want to try and know everything I can about home inspections and what. What's the role, what they look at, what don't they look at, the scope and limitations, because I need that in order to relay that information to the client.
Speaker 3:Whether that client is a seller or a buyer. Correct, because the seller needs to know what we're looking at so they know what they need to get fixed. And the buyer needs to know what they're looking at so that they know what they need to get fixed. And the buyer needs to know what they're looking at so that they know what they need to get fixed.
Speaker 2:So we had a complaint from an agent the other day who obviously does not know what we're doing, what we're supposed to be looking at, and then therefore, he's doing a disservice to his clients and we're not going to say who this guy is. So we do know he only does about two transactions a year. So if he could be an age of 15 years, that's all he does. He still doesn't have much experience.
Speaker 3:He's over 20.
Speaker 2:Over 20, two a year, all right, all right, so we will get into that and his complaint, but first let's listen to this.
Speaker 4:Habitation investigation is the way to go for a home inspection in Ohio. Trusted licensed home inspectors for your needs. From radon to mold to warranties For a great home inspection, you really can't go wrong. All right, Laura, Okay.
Speaker 2:So we got a complaint? Yeah, did he call first? Was it email?
Speaker 3:He called first and just went off. And I do what we always do has to be in writing, so that I know exactly what we're talking about.
Speaker 2:I can pull up the report, blah, blah, blah, whatever yeah, because people will say one thing and then later I go, no, no, I never said that right, so no, get it right they take what we say and misconstrue it or you know whatever.
Speaker 3:But yeah, if it's in writing, it can't be debated so it's also.
Speaker 2:This is a good tip for everybody if you have a complaint, have them write it out. I mean listen to it, but then tell them write it out, because that forces them to get out of their emotional, maybe irrational, side of the brain and go to all right. Right, I got to logically spell this out.
Speaker 3:Right.
Speaker 2:So sometimes that really does reduce the things that some people are feeling. So you always want to give somebody that you know, give them a chance to write it out so they can, but let's make sure they feel heard. But sometimes that doesn't really do a whole lot for some people, so anyway. So he called you and complained.
Speaker 3:Yes, he had the listing.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 3:His first comment was that our report blew two deals for him two deals okay so with how long ago did we do that inspection?
Speaker 2:the day that?
Speaker 3:he called me was four days from the inspection that we had done oh, so he rapidly took that and gave it to somebody else he and I said you're not supposed to do that, that's not state standard. Standards are that that client needs to release that report to you if they want you to be able to use that, because there's a confidentiality law that we all have to abide by here in Ohio and that is in violation of the confidentiality law.
Speaker 2:And we've never had a client, a home buyer, go. Oh sure, I'm not buying the house, but you use that report for everybody else. They're like no, I paid for that report house. But you use that report for everybody else. They're all like no, I paid for that report, I don't want anyone else to use it. Plus, it has their information. It's like no.
Speaker 3:Well, the buyer's agent said that they sent it to him full report on purpose because it needed fixed and they thought that having that report would help the elderly woman who owned this house fix it better. Okay, Okay.
Speaker 2:That seems logical to me, but that's not what he used it for. I would not recommend ever sending the full report. If there's something you need to get out of the purchase or request to get fixed, do not send the whole things.
Speaker 3:Because then this stuff happens.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:So I said well, you know that's part of your problem. You shouldn't have given it to that second client. And I heard a long, drawn-out saga about how he and his broker have been doing this for decades and that they've always done it this way and once they get that report, it's theirs. Once they get that report, it's theirs.
Speaker 2:So I guarantee the client will argue against that, and so will an attorney when somebody goes hey, why are you sending my name and information to let people know I'm looking to move from my current house? Why are you sending this out? Agents and brokers can do that until they get sued.
Speaker 3:And then it'll stop.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I won't feel bad.
Speaker 3:No, because it happens all the time.
Speaker 4:Yeah, and then they're mad at us because we're following the rules, right.
Speaker 2:So what was this?
Speaker 3:So your inspector mentioned roof support issues to the buyer's agent. Two roofing companies said straight out to the seller that the roof is structurally sound but it needs new sheathing boards and new shingles.
Speaker 2:That is not structurally sound. I mean, maybe the frame's okay. The sheathing is part of the structure. That's what holds the shingles up. They don't magically float. Well, I don't know so he's stretching things there Like yeah.
Speaker 3:That comment was unfounded, as well as several other comments. The inspector neglected to mention the updated bathrooms, updates to the dining room, updates to the kitchen, as well as newer flooring and refinished hardwood floors. The report was disappointing and negative and the seller feels her nice home was very unfairly torn apart. And that's actually what this agent said, okay.
Speaker 2:And that's actually what this agent said.
Speaker 3:Okay, so this agent why does he want us to comment about cosmetics? I don't know. Maybe because everything else in the house was a pile of crap.
Speaker 2:There were a lot of issues with this house and, yeah, it's not any home inspector or home inspection company to point out the things that help you sell the house. That is your job. To get the, the seller or the buyer, whoever you have, get them mentally ready and ready to do what they need to do. Even that's negotiation. Figure that out. It's not up to us to try and sell the house for you.
Speaker 3:If you look at Ohio Revised Code, there is a specific section in it that deals with home inspections and what exactly a home inspector is to look at. If we do not look at an item in there, we have to explain why. If we do not look at an item in there, we have to explain why. Was, for example, the attic blocked and we couldn't get to it? Or were we unable to test the furnace because there was no power to the house? Things like that. So if we can't inspect what is in Ohio Revised Code, we have to say why, so that the client knows what was going on in the condition of the house.
Speaker 3:That having been said, there is nothing in the Ohio revised code that says that we should or have to comment on new flooring, new this, a pretty house, or you know anything like that. There are very specific items. Please familiarize yourself with what the Ohio revised code says. Or have Jim and I come in and teach a class in your office and go over home inspection reports. We'll talk about what we look at, how to get your sellers ready for a home inspection, how to get your buyers ready for a home inspection, and it's a very detailed class. That is very helpful.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and we for the homeless person we did. The client didn't buy it so they got to make them get some bills. But we talked to the buyer's agent and go, hey, just so you know, they were sending that thing out, that report. So we deleted, well expired that report Expired the report. So they can't give that archives name to everybody who gets that report.
Speaker 3:The buyer's agent also had somebody look at the roof, like somebody that they've worked with for years, who said the roof was crap. And that was their phrase, not mine.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 3:That it was put on by somebody who didn't know what they were doing. I believe was the phrase that I heard.
Speaker 2:Yep. So, and there's something else about the chimney. And there's something, yeah, something about the chimney, I mean, there was a bunch of stuff. The agent. I think the buyer's agent had somebody look at the chimney, made comments about that at least, and the seller's agent goes yeah, she had some guy work on who probably wasn't all that handy, so he did some stuff to it, Even admitting that things are wrong.
Speaker 3:But he's like and that the guy wasn't as good as he should be, but he was like a friend of this old lady's or all she could afford or something like that.
Speaker 3:But it doesn't matter because that's not the condition that the client wants it in and the client's not going to want that person to fix it when they couldn't do it right the first time. So those are things that when you have a listing, don't get emotional about it. It's a business transaction. Is this house ready for whoever that client is that's doing the inspection? Does it meet their expectations and their needs?
Speaker 2:Correct, and we're inspecting the house a couple of days now and that is like gutted.
Speaker 3:Completely gutted Tomorrow.
Speaker 2:So that may sell just fine because that's the expectations of the person buying it. Now, if the person buying it was told this house is completely renovated and inside, and ready to go. Beautiful. Turn around and walk out. They're not going to buy that because it is nowhere near their expectations.
Speaker 3:Oh no, From the pictures that we saw, it's been completely gutted and it's down to the boards. It's like a pre-drywall inspection at this point.
Speaker 2:Yeah, barely, it'll be interesting what we see in that place, because it's over 100 years old yes, yes, it is so we'll see there, but uh but.
Speaker 3:But the expectations have to match for both the seller and for the client. They have to know, before you list a house, that people are going to come and inspect it. This is what they look at get this ready before we even put it on the market.
Speaker 2:Yep, and so the listing agent. He's been an agent for how long?
Speaker 3:I was told 25 years.
Speaker 2:And he still thinks that we should be. So this is a guy who probably stopped learning after his first year. I don't care how long you've been doing something, if you stop learning, you're basically still a novice or you're way back in time. This guy obviously has no desire. Well, he only sells two houses a year, so I'm hoping he has another job somewhere else, because he's I understand it's been a rough year, but if that's his average forever 20 years, then you know.
Speaker 2:He's not that good. No, he's not that good and we're proud of that. We have really good agents. Use us. If you're a home buyer and you're listening to this and your agent does not have us on their list, the only valid excuse is that they haven't heard about us. Yes, they haven't heard about us, or you're a new agent.
Speaker 3:Or you're a new agent.
Speaker 2:Yeah're a new agent. Yeah, pretty much, that's really it I mean we've been around.
Speaker 3:This is our 23rd year that's insane isn't that crazy that's insane, but we're gonna have a special party on the 25th we'll see.
Speaker 2:That's the silver anniversary for marriages, so we'll see it'll be the same.
Speaker 3:We'll do so. We'll see It'll be the same We'll do something.
Speaker 4:We'll do something. We'll do something.
Speaker 2:So I think that's about it for this one. But yeah, the home inspection report belongs to the client. The client gives permission for their agent to see it. If you are not that original client, you are not supposed to get access to that or use it for your own purposes, because there is no protection for you, because we say we totally screwed up.
Speaker 3:We did.
Speaker 2:You used an old report. It was made for somebody else. You find a big issue and you want to try and sue the home affairs company, but you weren't their client. You're not getting anything.
Speaker 3:Your only recourse at that point would be to go back after the agent that gave you the report.
Speaker 2:Because they're the ones telling you that by virtue of them giving it to you, yes. So, agents, if you're a crappy agent, keep on sharing those reports, because you're going to get weeded out. You're going to get weeded out.
Speaker 3:It is just what is that like a matter of time, when you? Know, like a blind squirrel finds a nut, or something happens. Why squirrel theory? It's just a matter of time before you hand a report to the wrong person on the wrong house, and that's all she wrote oh yeah, that would.
Speaker 2:yeah, it reminds the story where the the rumor is the agent hid a mold issue. Okay, buyers come home and there's a note on their door.
Speaker 3:Oh, I remember this one.
Speaker 2:Somebody we think we know, who, like the sister of the seller. No, the sister of the agent. The agent that sold it Put a note on the new homeowner's door saying, hey, the agent hit a mold issue. Well, we went out and did testing and confirmed it, but yeah, so but.
Speaker 3:It comes out in the end.
Speaker 2:It came out. Well, what about the?
Speaker 3:other one where they we did an inspection.
Speaker 2:We could do an episode of when hiding things bites you in the ass.
Speaker 3:Let's do that one Cause, I've got one for that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, maybe we can do something like that. So, anyway, that's it for this one. Thank you everybody. All right, bye-bye.
Speaker 1:You've been listening to the standing out in Ohio podcast. Be sure to subscribe on Spotify or Google Podcasts to get new, fresh episodes. For more, please follow us on Instagram, twitter and Facebook, or visit the website of the best Ohio home inspection company at homeinspectionsinohiocom or jimtroffcom. That's J-I-M-T-R-O-T-H and click on podcast Until next time. Learn and go do stuff.