Walk-and-Talk Consultation – $250

When you can’t get a home inspection

When should you consider a Walk & Talk Consultation

In today’s real estate market sellers have the upper hand.  Between a lack of housing inventory and multiple offers being submitted on the same home, some real estate agents say that asking for a home inspection will put your offer at the bottom of the list and will most likely lead to you not getting the home. However, home buyers shouldn’t go into the home purchase blind and because you don’t want to buy someone else’s problems, you should consider a pre-offer Walk and Talk Consultation.

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 60 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.