Walk-and-Talk Consultation – $250
When a full home inspection isn’t an option or desired
When should you consider a Walk & Talk Consultation
It has been this home inspector’s experience that a Walk and Talk Consultation works best for two different types of customers.
The first is for the person who owns their home and is thinking about putting it on the market to sell it. I can walk through the home with the homeowner and point out things that should be corrected before putting the home on the market. This helps avoid a prospective buyer from trying to get you to lower the price of the home or who wants a major concession due to conditions found in the home that need repair.
The second is someone who has bought a home without a home inspection being done prior to the purchase of the home. It’s very common for some people to be apprehensive about what may be wrong with the home they purchased and who want piece of mind confirming they didn’t buy someone else’s expensive problems.
In either case and for a modest fee, a Walk and Talk consultation can give you useful information about your home.
What is a Walk & Talk Consultation
A Walk and Talk Consultation is a limited visual review of the home. The inspector will walk through the home with their client and share his observations about what he is seeing. The consultation is limited to whatever the inspector can easily see while walking around the property, and it should be understood not everything will be inspected due to the cursory nature of the Walk & Talk Consultation. However, you will be getting real-time feedback about the home, which is especially useful if you have a short timeline to make your home purchase decision. This is an opportunity to ask questions, take notes and to learn some valuable information about the home you’re interested in. While the average home inspection takes approximately three hours or more, a Walk and Talk Consultation will be limited to 90 minutes. If you’re considering waving (not doing) a home inspection, you should tell your realtor you want a Walk and Talk Consultation, and your realtor can arrange a time for this inspector and you to meet at the home.
A Walk and Talk Consultation is not a Home Inspection
Unlike a full home inspection, the Walk and Talk Consultation is not as thorough as a home inspection and will not identify all the defects that may be present in the home. Simply put, a Walk and Talk Consultation is not a home inspection. While a home inspection is more thorough (see ASHI Standard of Practice), the Walk and Talk Consultation will focus only on the following visible areas of the home, the roof covering, structural elements, plumbing, heating and cooling equipment. The only tool your inspector will use is a flashlight. That means NO ladders (the inspector will not be going into attics, crawlspaces or on roofs). He will not move or remove obstructions including secured panel covers and hatch covers. NO screwdrivers (covers on HVAC systems and electric panels will not be removed). Heating and cooling systems and any other mechanical systems will not be operated. Your inspector will NOT be taking any photos or providing their client with a written report. We strongly encourage you to ask for a full home inspection prior to the home purchase. If this is not possible, we recommend you have a thorough home inspection performed the day after settlement.
Why choose me
Your inspector has been inspecting for over 21 years and has performed thousands of inspections. He will use the experience he has gained over that time when performing your Walk and Talk Consultation. He will share valuable insight that can be used to either move forward with the home purchase or decide not to purchase the home.