COLCO Correspondence

James

I've been interested in following your Colco Emails. Thanks!

From my end of things (home/property inspector) I am amazed by the number of condo units for sale that haven't been declared leakers. The owners when interviewed claim ignorance of any problems with the building envelope and claim that their management company is very responsible in maintaining the building.

The other day I was asked to do a home inspection. I told my client to check out the strata minutes for the entire 11 yr period since construction. I also informed them that their complex was listed with Colco's leakers. Sure enough horror stories emerged. The sales agent claimed there were no problems with the building and that it was well managed. Turned out the East walls were recently repaired I wasn't privy to that description, as I never did the inspection or meet with the purchaser. My prospective client had gone through months of looking and was told there was nothing wrong. They could have as easily taken the word of the agent and moved in, or hired an inspector recommended by the agent, as most agents have a number of inspectors who they promote as being the best, the most experienced, and "we use this company all the time, they are very thorough". 

My client walked and of course I didn't get paid for my part. I could have easily just showed up, done the inspection and present my unbiased opinion and gotten paid. My frustration is that cover-up is rampant and no one is accountable it seems. My client had to go through all this to find out that the building was a risk to her pursuit of happiness and security. What a waste of time, I'm sure some hapless sucker will purchase the unit eventually. As you know it is much easier to yell and scream injustice than to expect  justice.

I am an inspector concerned that the problem is being perpetuated by deceit and other desperate tact's. Home inspectors depend on realtors for a conservative 80% of all inspection jobs. That means that to work in this field inspectors must market their services to realtors. Realtors are only human and from what I've seen their choice of inspectors falls between total incompetence to mediocre. Thorough inspectors will be absent from most all realtors lists of preferred inspectors to recommend. I'm perplexed as to how seemingly intelligent people will defer the choice of an inspector to the agent. I've found that the general consensus regarding the moral integrity of realtors in general is a laughable subject. Why do these same people think their realtor is any different than the ones they have heard about.

There are powerful influences to keep a lid on the subject of "Conflict of Interest" as described in realtor and inspector association's code of ethics and standards of practice. 

I applaud your work and what Colco has achieved. The problems associated with real-estate extend to the very infrastructures of "respectable society". Good luck!

I'm fighting my own battle with other inspectors, realtors, and associations. Your cause will go a long way in waking the public to Caveat Emptor. Problem is the very professionals the public is directed to may have hidden agendas contrary to the consumers interests, exercising their profession behind vague and misleading information and protected by generalizations and disclaimers. And so it goes! More grist for the mill.