Hello. My name is Peter Krija. I was taught renovations since young, then joined my 3rd generation family construction company then went on my own at 17 years of age. I have been a building inspector (my own firm since 1987) and a REALTOR for over 12 years. What I think your industry lacks in your area is 1. A fund where money can be spent to educate the home inspection benefits to a buyer. 2. A branch association committee should be ongoing in offering articles to newspapers and magazines that are regional in distribution to your branch. 3. Ongoing information like a list of recommended inspectors, prices and time it takes to inspect and what the client recieves sent to regional lawyers and title insurers and anyone that will listen. When one reads your article it is obious how disapointed you are that the REALTORS have such an influence with the buyer in inspector choice. I agree. Often it is self serving. I will not offer or practice if there is a conflict and must be very careful not to create a conflict of interest. I am Canadian and live in Hamilton Ontario. I advocate for my client be they buyer or seller and accompany the REALTOR and inspector working for the other side and advocate for my client the seller and point out the good in a home. Even though a book gives the life expectancy for different products no one knows how long a heat exchanger or compressor or cast iron pipe etc, will last based on expected life. Obvious repair requirement is different. First time buyers especially get sticker shock not because any defect was uncovered, because the estimated or anticipated budget amount to maintain the subject home is very high. Even though most buyers have this information in hand-their emotions still rule the day and if all they are looking for is slight encouragement from anyone (provided the home is not a disaster) then what is the harm? No home is perfect. No buyer will find a perfect home. No builder can build a perfect home. It all distills to integrety, honour, knowlegde and experience and I am very happy to tell you not all professionals behave the way you think too many in your area do. P.S. It takes in my opinion an average of 3 to 5 hours from start to finish an inspection on-site. You have to say hello and explain things to a client then you have to create the report and bill them and get paid. Regards, Peter Krija.
