Dan Stewardhome in

Oh, the wild ride that was the pandemic. And the one during and after when it seemed that every other family was feeling “if we have to stay home indefinitely, we are upgrading. More space. More outdoor space. More distance.” 

A home buying and selling spree seemed to begin in March of 2021 and started to affect the home inspection industry noticeably in the third quarter of 2021. It became more apparent in the fourth quarter of that year and by the first and second quarters of 2022, it was a real issue. 

While the period was a well-deserved windfall for hard-working Realtors, it also put many of us in the home industry under much duress. Realtors wanted their clients to get the best deal and during this time they were also just trying to get the deal. As many as 15 offers could come in on a desirable home. The cash offers were always at an advantage but then the competition got stiffer and those that would offer to waive certain contingencies went on a ‘short list’ of desirable buyers. 

The real problem then became how to protect the client while also getting their bids to the front of the line. Of those that waived home inspections, some got lucky. Others not so much. 

Realtors’ Dilemma 

Realtors wanted to close deals, of course, but they definitely wanted to do what was best for their clients, be they buyers or sellers. No one wanted contingencies waived on contracts but at some point, it became clear that if 10 bids were coming in for a home on the same day, the top bid with the best terms – usually cash deals, quick-close offers and waiving of home inspections – began to creep into the process.  

Clearly this was a huge topic during the several months that the practice of waiving contingencies endured, as the numerous panel discussions and open question-and-answer sessions on skipping home inspections that appeared on the popular social media platform Reddit demonstrates. 

It wasn’t long before the horror stories of buying without a home inspection began to appear in various media outlets across North America. While some got lucky or brought along friends with some home knowledge to view the home quickly, the result was that many people bought homes, skipped the home inspection, and regretted it.  

To avoid such situations in the future for home inspectors, and to aid Realtors so that they can assist their clients without sacrificing any integrity, “contactless” home inspections are becoming the norm. This is a virtual, 360-degree visual inspection summary that brings the inspection report to life and includes every room and a home’s exterior. It can be accessed anywhere, anytime from any device and shared with family or contractors. No one but the inspection team needs to be present during the inspection. 

Virtual floor plans will also be available to share dimensions with contractors for estimating and can also be used to determine furniture fit and placement. Virtual home manuals allow the homeowner to download user manuals/warranty information, find safety recalls on the appliances and learn age and useful remaining life of systems. 

Also, a program that provides a cost estimate for inspection summary items based on ZIP code. This is extremely useful for sellers who do a pre-listing inspection, letting them learn what recommended repairs will cost based on prices charged in their area. Now, a program that provides an accurate floor plan of the entire home is available. It can be used to determine furniture fit and placement, and also provide exact dimensions to contractors for estimating purposes.  

What the pandemic taught many of us in the business world is that evolving and adapting is an absolute must. 

Dan Steward is President and CEO of Pillar To Post Home Inspectors, a franchise home inspection company operating in Massachusetts and 48 other states.