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TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc., Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029 (Complete Home Inspections, Inc.)

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Rainmaker
1,662,036
John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Stuff happens.  As long as it was quickly and freely fixed I wouldn't have a problem with it. The clients might have a different opinion.

Jun 23, 2015 11:24 PM
Rainmaker
3,626,530
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

If it was fixed to everyone's satisfaction why would the agents bitch?  Just doesn't make any sense

Jun 23, 2015 10:21 PM
Rainer
352,976
Teri Pacitto
Compass - Westlake Village, CA
Real Estate, Your Style...Your Home...My Specialty

In my 26+ years in the business I've had this happen twice. Once an inspector's foot slipped while in the attic and he fell through the dining room ceiling. Luckily he was not hurt. I was there and so was the homeowner and all we could think of is thank goodness he was not hurt. A little disheveled but okay. Next time and it was the same inspector unfortunately that slid off a roof not too long after the first incident and he was not so lucky. He sliced his hand severely and it was very bad this time. The homeowner was a nurse who just happened to arrive at home and helped stop the bleeding. Neither time did I or the listing agent get mad at the inspector. Accidents happen and I'm surprised they don't more often. Inspectors take a lot of risks, from going into attics, climbing up tall ladders to check on rooftops of town home complexes, to crawling under homes with crawl spaces, hot attics and heaven knows what lurks in attics or crawl spaces. Lighten up and respect each other is all I can say...getting angry doesn't help any situation. In this business we all work as a team.

Jun 23, 2015 11:51 PM
Rainmaker
1,466,207
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Michael Thornton Of course it shouldn't have happened, but accidents do happen. Fortunately, the inspector didn't get seriously hurt by falling to the lower level.

Jun 23, 2015 11:39 PM
Rainmaker
911,448
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

That's happened more than once. The agents don't own the house so they have no right getting mad at anyone. The repair process should have been handled with the owners, and if they were satisfied with the repair, that's all the matters. I'm assuming home is under contract, so as long as repair process is done properly in acceptable timeframe, and doesn't delay settlement, there shouldn't be any problems.

Jun 23, 2015 10:58 PM
Rainmaker
516,537
Brenda J. Andrew
ULTIMA REAL ESTATE - Willis, TX
Professional Realtor in Conroe/Willis, TX

I think as long as it was fixed to everyone's satisfaction there should not be an issue.  I am suprised it doesn't happen more often and am glad that hopefully no one was seriously hurt.  Like you said, accidents happen.  I dont' know of anyone who is perfect.

Jun 23, 2015 10:20 PM
Rainmaker
699,277
Chris and Dick Dovorany
Homes for Sale in Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero, Florida - Naples, FL
Broker/Associate at Premiere Plus Realty

Idiot agents.  It's an accident and not an on purpose.

Jun 23, 2015 09:40 PM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

stuff happens....human error.... if that's the worst slip you ever have, you did well.... she needs an attitude adjustment!!!

Jun 23, 2015 09:35 PM
Rainmaker
1,726,096
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

These agents are too 'perfect' to believe they have never had an accident. I once had a home inspector fall through the garage ceiling to land on his back on the concrete garage floor. I was more worried about him than the damage. Yes, he repaired the damage, and yes the buyer purchased the home.

Jun 24, 2015 01:35 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Some are so quick to throw others under the bus. 

As you are fully aware, when a foot appears through a ceiling that does not belong there, a dramatic sequence of events occurs.

The home owner zero in on the listing agent asking, "How could you allow these people in my house? Look at this mess! I did not expect my house to be destroyed during the inspection! What are other buyers going to think NOW? I feel you have betrayed the trust I invested in your."

What's the listing agent to do?

Zero in on the buyers agent.  
"You've got to make this go away!"

Buyers agent to inspector, "Who do you know that can have this fixed by end of day tomorrow?"  
Inspector, "Ah, I don't know I need to call my boss."

Buyers agent to Listing agent, "We're working on it?"

Listing agent to home owner, "They are working on it."

Home owner to listing agent, "If I knew this was going to happen I would have gone FSBO."

Inspector to Buyer agent, "Boss needs to come over this evening to assess the situation."

Buyer agent to inspector, "This is six hours away! Do you see that mess? I need your boss here in NOW!"

Inspector to buyer agent, "I need to make a phone call."

Buyers agent to listing agent, "They are working on it."

Listing agent to home owner, "They are working on it."

Home owner to listing agent, "@$#%%%#@$%^^%%!"

Are agents over reacting when the dining room table is covered with debris from plaster, plaster board, particle insulation, attic bugs, dirt and lumber remnants?

What we do not know, from the incident you describe, is the remedy you offered and the time that remedy was delivered. Was the restoration BETTER than the original condition? 

It SHOULD NOT have happened. PERIOD. 
One of the very basic, fundamental skills of an inspector is to scamper those rafters without going through the ceiling.

But stuff does happen. As a result, in this business, many people have a lot at stake, the greatest of which is TRUST.

If the cause of the problem delivered a solution that was above reasonable expectation, IMMEDIATELY, the agents know how to address their clients. "They are working on it," is NEVER the right response. They will be angry at the culprit for putting them in that situation. Rightfully so.  You may have cost them the trust of the client. And our entire business is based on referrals. You may have killed that resource by a simple misstep.

Do what you can do.
Be fully accountable.
Make the owner whole.
Let the cards fall where they may, if you have done all you can do.

Jun 23, 2015 11:20 PM
Rainmaker
1,513,143
Raymond E. Camp
Ontario, NY

No and I see a couple of ulcer's on the way!

Jun 23, 2015 10:39 PM
Rainmaker
88,949
Johnny Davis
Ocala, FL
Where SOLD Happens!

Accidents happen. That is why you should only deal with vendors who are licensed and insured.

Jun 23, 2015 10:22 PM
Rainmaker
2,363,566
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

Are these agents you need to keep happy? If so, send them and the homeowner each flowers or chocolates and thank them for their understanding. (Yes, I know they were not understanding!) 

Jun 23, 2015 09:51 PM
Rainmaker
282,018
Nancy Robinson Ranked #6 in MI
Century 21 Town and Country - Royal Oak, MI
#11 Century21 Realtor in the US, #16 in the World

When you say "team member" do you mean a  Realtor showing the house or the inspector?   I don't understand who the "team member"is  and why were they in the attic?

Jun 23, 2015 09:18 PM
Ambassador
1,076,551
John Meussner
Mortgages in AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IN, MD, MN, MT, NC, NJ, NV, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI - Fair Oaks, CA
#MortgageMadeEasy Fair Oaks, CA 484-680-4852

Accidents happen, but some people are that unforgiving.  Fortunately for them they were born perfect so they can't possibly understand a 'slip' or mistake by someone else.

Jun 24, 2015 03:53 AM
Rainmaker
4,572,595
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Michael -- as we all know - stuff happens -- how you deal with the situation often speaks volumes and it seems your company did everything that could be expected in my opinion.  

Both agents seem unrealistic given the information you have provided.

Jun 24, 2015 02:22 AM
Rainer
67,369
Evelyn M Epperson
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Johns Creek, GA
A Tradition Of [Excellence, Trust & Service]

I am a laid back person with a little hyper thrown in.  So I would understand accidents happen and the loose board should be taken care of so no one else slips. 

Jun 24, 2015 12:13 AM
Rainer
202,459
Jim Harper
Atlanta Communities Real Estate - Marietta, GA

Michael,

Realistic? No. Things do happen. It's all about a quick, satisfactory(to the injured party{s}) solution. But we all know some must voice opinions that don't matter.

Jun 23, 2015 11:51 PM
Rainer
432,872
Virtual Realty Consultants
Virtual Realty Consultants LLC - Wellesley, MA
Making the American Dream a Reality

check with your E&O carrier, you may have a claim on your hands.  Timely notification of a potential claim will be to your benefit. Or the homeowner should check with their insurer just in case a claim is filed.

Jun 24, 2015 11:03 AM
Rainmaker
1,562,386
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

Inspectors are also licensed, bonded and insured for these things as well.  Now, as a real estate agent I'd be VERY upset if the inspector allowed the buyer up in the attic and the same "accident" took place.   

Jun 24, 2015 10:10 AM
Rainer
480,243
Raymond Denton
Homesmart / Evergreen Realty - Irvine, CA
Irvine Realtor®

It's not the first time I've heard of a foot going through the roof.  As long as it's repaired, and you can't tell it happened, all is good.

Jun 24, 2015 08:37 AM
Rainmaker
900,278
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

I don't understand - at whom are the RE agents angry? At the inspector for falling through or at the homeowner, who did not have a home in good repair? I would think the inspector would have appropriate insurance for these types of eventualities. If the agents are upset about the whole in the ceiling, they should be happy it was fixed before someone else got seriously hurt; homeowners as well.

Jun 24, 2015 06:31 AM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

Perfection is not an option.

Jun 24, 2015 06:21 AM