615-200-7127 Schedule Online
Schedule Online Call 615-200-7127

Services / Walk-Through Consultation

Walk-Through Consultation

A "walk and talk" with an experienced inspector for fast-moving markets: an abbreviated visual review with findings reported on the spot.

For Home-buyers

Over the past two years, the pandemic has added numerous challenges to the already difficult pursuit of buying a home. The red-hot Nashville housing market has further complicated the undertaking by ramping up the speed at which homes sell. As a workaround, some buyers have opted to accept significant financial risk by forgoing a home inspection and purchasing a house on an “as is” basis.

While we recommend that a complete home inspection be performed before any purchase, we understand that this is not always possible in the current climate. When a standard home inspection is not an option, we strongly recommend that buyers consider hiring us for a walk-through consultation as a minimum level of protection against major issues.

A walk-through consultation is an abbreviated visual-only assessment of the home in which information is relayed directly to the client. The client or their representation will need to be on-site for the duration of the consultation to take notes and photos as recommended by the inspector. No written report is provided for walk-through consultations.

For the average-sized home, the consultation will last for approximately one hour and focus primarily on components or systems with a high failure rate or cost of repair. In addition, our experienced home inspector will tailor their process to the style and age of the house. In essence, we approach the home as we would if we were the buyer. For more information about the process, call today to speak to an inspector.

For Investors

Walk-through consultations can be a money-saving method of gaining insight into the condition of potential purchases without incurring the cost of a complete home inspection per property. We can work with you to schedule consultations at multiple addresses within a tight timeframe to quickly help you gauge the viability of each property.

← All services

FAQ

Walk-Through Consultation questions.

A walk-through consultation, aka “walk and talk,” is an on-site consultation with an experienced home inspector. The inspector will perform an abbreviated visual inspection of the home and report any findings directly to the client or agent. The entire process takes about an hour on a typical home.

Due to the flexibility of this format, the inspection process can be highly-tailored to meet the needs of the client or the house. For instance, the inspector could place additional focus on the foundation wall if this is a primary area of concern for the potential buyer. If no specific instructions are given, the inspector will use their experience and knowledge of the house type and age to create an effective plan. Our goal is to prioritize the inspection of components or systems with a high failure rate or an expensive repair cost over more commonplace issues.

I have heard clients refer to this type of consultation as a “pass-fail” inspection, but the term is being misused when applied to this service. In reality, the term “pass-fail” describes the client’s intended use of the results rather than the type of inspection. As home inspectors, our role is never to make decisions for you. We simply give buyers the tools to make more informed decisions.

All information gathered during the consultation will be delivered verbally to the client or agent. The client is welcome to take pictures of items pointed out by the inspector, take detailed notes, or record the overview with the inspector.

A walk-through consultation could be performed at any point in the home-buying process; however, most clients choose to get a consultation before making an offer. I have conducted consultations alongside showings and even during open houses. The possibilities are limited only by the flexibility of the seller-side.

The answer to this question is a resounding no. We recommend that consultations be followed up with a traditional home inspection after closing. A consultation is intended to reveal significant red-flag issues, whereas a home inspection will provide information about less severe items that need attention. The most cost-effective way to address a potentially large issue is to find them and fix them while they’re still small.

For most houses, the consultation costs $250 and takes roughly an hour to complete, including the discussion of the findings. If the client and the inspector feel that more time is needed, additional hours can be scheduled at a rate of $150 per hour.

Schedule online

Pick the day, and we'll take it from there.

Book online in a few minutes, or call to talk with an inspector first. Either way, we'll confirm your appointment and answer your questions before we arrive.

Schedule an Inspection Call 615-200-7127