When do you pull the plug on an inspection?

I am still shuddering over yesterday's inspection. It was an odd case - a single mom of four who is in dispute over safety issues with her landlord, asked me to perform a home inspection so she can send a report to the landlord. I made sure she understood my loyalty is to the house, not any side of an argument. So, off I went, but I could not believe the state of the house!!

There was crap everywhere like I couldn't even imagine! I could not find too many outlets, couldn't access some rooms (most of my report writing will be "limitations") including feces from animals all over the house.... kids' bedroom floors etc. Then I went to the basement and started my "inspection". Oil furnace had not been run in two years, tank is bone dry. Electrical panel was a mess and I could only recommend a licensed electrician come in. And the floor joists.... Oh my, they are cedar logs about 8 - 10" diameter, notched and burned pretty good. The floors were sagging above too. I considered walking away from the inspection and just telling her to call the municipal government in..... but the whole single mom of four issue was playing on me.

So my question - when (or should) do you pull the plug on an inspection, and if so, how do you do it? The whole situation has left me feeling uneasy. Those kids shouldn't be living there. The whole family should be relocated to another house (and they need help with the mess, the mother shouldn't let them live like that).

Leigh

Thats an interesting situation. I always turn down these inspections.

If that were me, I would report the landlord to anyone and everyone who would listen including some news stations.

Juan Jimenez wrote:Leigh

Thats an interesting situation. I always turn down these inspections.

If that were me, I would report the landlord to anyone and everyone who would listen including some news stations.

That's a great way to have listing agents blacklisting you. Just sayin'.

We're there to inspect, we have no idea what is going on with the house or the back story.

There is no listing agent Nathan.

Regardless, do you want to be known as that guy?

Here's the example of the image I don't think you want to portray:

http://youtu.be/7lDwF8H66VE

This is the image that led a 10+ year inspection veteran to have virtually no business from the real estate community. I wonder why...

It gets better:

http://youtu.be/03fB-8B-XSk

Even if you handle it better, even if there is no agent involved, I'd rather see you walk away than be the guy that is perceived like this.

Nathan wrote:It gets better:

http://youtu.be/03fB-8B-XSk

Even if you handle it better, even if there is no agent involved, I'd rather see you walk away than be the guy that is perceived like this.

Wow that's the American Mike Holmes or what?

I agree with previous comments on this thread - I would like to call in authorities for two issues - first, the landlord has a suspect building (as it turns out those joists burned in the "great fire of 1891" but definitely letting go) and second the mom should be charged for letting her kids live like that. Having said that, my role is to inspect and report. done.

I ended up submitting my report on conditions as I should (a lot of limitations and a lot of further evaluation by XXXXX specialist), and when the tenant / mom asked who she could call to get the landlord in trouble I told her very clearly that is outside of my expertise, but she could ask the local bylaw office that question.

I suspect she will call in a municipal inspector who will put the hammer down on both issues, and he/she won't worry about opinion for a second. I still just don't like the whole situation. I don't want to be the guy to turn down work but I think I will stay away from disputes. We will see if this one goes anywhere...

Nathan wth was that, Farsetta's audition for his own reality show?