Better Safe than Sorry….Home Inspection Contracts

DID YOU KNOW…

…that it is important to have a client sign your home inspection agreement PRIOR to the start of the inspection? It’s true. In fact, it is a best practice to make your client aware of your written contract, and to try and provide a copy to the client for review 48-hours in ADVANCE of the inspection time and date. Often, Clients seeking damages from Home Inspectors rebuke the terms and conditions of the inspection agreement, and claim that they were under duress when they signed, or that they had no choice, or that they didn’t have time to review all the terms and conditions. Similar to when one purchases a car or refinances a home, there is a 48-hour cooling off period for the client to review what they signed, and walk away from the deal. The problem for home inspectors is that most times, the client and inspector meet at the inspection, and the engagement begins. Though a common business practice for the industry, it can work against the inspector should there be trouble down the road.