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Dallas Real Estate: Can Over-Zealous Home Inspectors Kill The Deal?

Posted on August 18th, 2009 1:13pm by Candy Evans
Filed under Changing market trends in Real Estate, Homes for sale

Good piece on Inman about an overly-picky home inspector who killed a deal over a stucco crack and carpet stain. Home inspections are not required in Texas — unless required by the lender. We had a home inspector once who failed to note that the wiring in all the light switches was worn and about to spark — I asked for my money back, called an electrician and have not been bullish on them ever since. But carpet stains? Hairline cracks? When is too picky ridiculous? Oh and about that gas smell: if you call and report a gas smell, be prepared for your gas to be cut off immediately until an inspector comes out to check the line. Way better safe than dead sorry.

4 Comments to “Dallas Real Estate: Can Over-Zealous Home Inspectors Kill The Deal?”

in dallas @ August 19th, 2009 at 1:07 pm

Yes!! We had a deal fall through because the buyers wanted everything mentioned in the report repaired or replaced. Their inspector spent 6 hours in our 3800 sq foot home on top of 2 hours of HVAC inspection from a separate contractor. Needless to say you can find lots of nitpicky things in 8 hours. We had a contractor look at it and pull out anything that could be a safety or structural concern and we agreed to fix those but it was a no go.
Dallas Realtor @ August 19th, 2009 at 9:19 pm

I’ve had multiple deals fall through from over-zealous inspectors. I know which ones to call on for my buyers – they are thorough, but not extreme. I also know a handful that will pass almost anything. However, with the new inspection requirements, I’m convinced there is not a house in Dallas that could pass inspection with some of these fanatical guys.
A good inspector will review the inspection report (in person) with the buyer and verbally let them know which items they should be concerned about.
Joe @ August 22nd, 2009 at 11:31 am

As “Dallas Realtor” says.. there’s not a perfect house in the city at any price range. Good agents on each side know what’s worth fighting over.. and what’s worth walking away from. Trust your agent… it’s what you pay them for.
Johnson @ September 28th, 2009 at 10:26 am

be leery too of the Barney Fife overzealos inspectors–they have inferiority complexes and feel tne need to pad their “reports” filled with stains, cracks, or other insanely obvious things in 20-30 year old homes?!?! or speculate about the time of death of things–way outside their purview. Hire a sturctural engineer or P.E. or licensed contractor for 2-3 hours instead of a home “inspector.” three box tops of count chocula and 100 bucks and you too can call yourself the home “inspector.” almost as much of a joke as obtaining an RE “license”–ethics–hahah that is a JOKE.