Walked away mid-inspection/vent

[DJBanas]

I almost always do the interior first although I do a quick look around the outside to make sure that I generally understand the layout. I think the OP has already said that taking photos of the baby's room and coming back out was something he could have done. It's what I would have done except if the homeowners gave me a bad attitude about it. Then I would have walked.

 

[Pittsburgh Pete]

Seems to me that some appraisers are way too full of themselves!

 

[Vermonter]

Like I said, your call. Maybe the people were more obnoxous in person!

This sounds like the issue. Have never left mid inspection for a rude homeowner, but have come close. Last one was a shut-in homeowner getting very agitated and trying to keep me from going in every room....not to mention being pretty condescending about it. "It's a {whatever} room, haven't you seen one before?"

Some people just don't know how to interact. I calmed him (and myself) down with a little explanation and he changed his tune.

BTW, I start inside and if I find discrepancy while on the outside, I will request to go back in. Start in the cleanest area (interior living space) and work my way to the dirtiest (attic, basement, exterior, outbuildings). It's just easier here.

 

[Thomas Fiehler]

I always complete the interior inspection first-don't want to apologize for tracking dirt into their house!

 

[NC Appraising]

I run into the baby thing all the time. I try my best to please the buyers to the best of my abilities.

Inspect the one room, and then go back to your routine. I realize complex properties are best to start from the outside to get an idea and do a pre-sketch.

In some situations I have completed the interior first, due to the owners having to leave.

I also dress nice, use yes sir, listen to all of their dribble about painting, blinds, and all of the other great things about their home. Homeowners will be the first ones to turn you into the board or to complain to the lender, and you never know who they know at the bank....so that one 300 appraisal could cost you your best client which would equal a great deal more.
You are a Representative of the bank.

Like most in the service industry, keep a smile and give a nice head shake, and when you leave the house cuss them out in your car and yell at the top of your lungs on how much these owners are pricks.....and then collect your check.

 

[NC Appraising]

I always complete the interior inspection first-don't want to apologize for tracking dirt into their house!

I always take my shoes off

 

[Diego Lopez]

I am just getting around to reading other posts.
Hidden rooms?? Was this Al Capones house? I have seen so many odd houses with strange floor plans and yes one with some "hidden" rooms in Chicago. Thing is just open every door there is and there will never be a hidden room again. I dont understand how you would find a hidden room from outside?! Hidden rooms mean you did not open every door. recently in a rush I just peeked into the small 1/2 bath on the first floor. When I got home, I noticed the very old listing showed only full baths no 1/2 baths. In my picture behind the door was a shower. I was careless and almost made it 3 1/2 baths instead of 4 full. I am not saying I have never missed anything. I actually "found" a bedroom the owner forgot was there (not kidding).

That is cause you haven't appraised in South FL. In my market, about 10% of the houses have hidden rooms. Let me re-phrase the term hidden rooms so you will understand: an illegal "accessory unit" with no access from the interior that the HO will make every attempt to conceal from you.
So you do your interior inspection, you miss the room cause there is no interior door, then you go outside, take your measurements, and go home. If you had done the exterior inspection first, you would have noticed, there is one unaccounted for exterior door or window, or that an area looks small for what should be a 25' wall or something.

 

[Renee Healion]

People are stressed whether from trying to deal with each other, a baby, or the economy. I am not blaming the OP but you let people transfer their problems onto you. Reading your post I thought these people were unhappy long before you showed up. When you resisted, they turned and focused their unhappiness on you, and worse, the Bickersons then united against you. You were concentrating on your work and did not read them.

There is no reason to think this won't happen again because people are not going to get happier. It could be over anything. The next one will have a baby which they need to go wake up. It's the economy. Or a bad marriage. And you walked into it just minding your own business. Being tuned to people is not just for apparently dangerous situations.

Babies do not need to be put to sleep. They put themselves to sleep unless the household is a tension convention. People use "The Baby" as an expression of their own needs. So I think you wandered into an unhappy place with unhappy people. And soon everyone was unhappy, from them, through you, and right back to the client. (And now we are fighting here but we love that!) Maybe a little mercy despite their unpleasantness, or just keeping your own balance, would have allowed you to get in and get out, with the info you need.

 

[Peter LeQuire]

Many of these posts appear to have been written by non-parents.

I agree with NC, for the most part, though sometimes I wear my camo cutoffs, Larry the Cable Guy work shirt, snow tire flip flops and a Corona visor.

I PPete has a great point - we may may be professionals, but we need to not think we enjoy the same prestige as physicians: brain surgeons don't make house calls.

 

[J Grant]

I have met some rude / peculiar/ hostile homeowners, and never walked out. The way I look at it, I am interacting with these people for 10 minutes, and won't ever have to see them again.
Unless I felt threatened, rude/obnoxious behaviour is not enough to make me leave an inspection.

I have the opposite problem...getting away from overly friendly people. People seem to want to talk to me, and it gets hard to be polite and just make an exit!

The only time I did this in my entire career, years ago, I ended up having breakfast with the homeowners! They were a lonely elderly couple and no harm done, but it was the first, last, and only time.

Homeowners offer me coffee and water etc but I decline it as don't want to turn it into a social visit.