Flip Tip: Working with city inspectors

5 "FLIP TIPS" for working with city inspectors

When working on bigger projects, or small projects that still require a city permit, city inspectors have a huge impact on our budget, schedule, and success of a fix and flip. Here are 5 flip tips that will help you get through the toughest inspectors

1. - Be on time - When you schedule an inspection, get your contractor the number of the inspector. Give them a call to get an idea of when they will be at your property. Make sure the contractor isn't late! Inspectors are generally VERY BUSY. If they get there and nobody is there, they will leave in a heartbeat. This will cost you time, money, and you will have a pissed off inspector for next time, which leads us into tip number 2.

2. BE NICE! - This, like most things, is a PEOPLE business. I'm amazed how people speak to each other these days. Common respect and courtesy can be difficult to find these days, which makes it that more important to BUILD RAPPORT. Be on time, let them in, have the plans and paperwork ready, and chill out. Be nice, and let them run the show. This inspector can be your friend, or he can be your enemy. A friend will let small things slide, an enemy will nit pick every little detail. A friend will give your a complete list of items that need to be fixed. An enemy will call out missed items one inspection at a time. You do not want a spiteful inspector. 

3. Hire Pro's - The best, and easiest way to get a quick approval is to have qualify workmanship. The inspector will immediately notice the quality of the work your contractors. If it looks like a pro did the work they will breeze through the house. If it looks shoddy, they will look in every nook and cranny in that house. The best contractors have relationships with the established city inspectors. 

4. Verify what inspections are required - This is a pretty specific tip, and I can tell you this one has gotten me more than once. SHAME ON ME! Every city runs things their own unique way. Each city will have it's own regulation on what inspections are needed. Some cities will want to do a pre-demo walk thru, others don't want to see anything until rough. Some cities want a nail inspection for the roof. So if you already had the shingles installed, you will need to pull up a few layers so the inspector can make sure there are plenty of nails in the stud. Then you get to have your roofer come fix the repairs. Time and money. Some cities want to see the batt insulation in the wall. Before you put up the drywall, ASK if an insulation inspection is required. Ask if a drywall nail inspection is required. Going back to undo work is a crazy and costly thing that will kill your profit margin. 

5. Get a business card, make a friend - Make sure you contractors are connecting with them, but as an owner I also like to show up at one or more of the inspections to build rapport and build a relationship. I pull them aside from the contractor and ask for their honest opinion on the quality of our trades. Ask things like, "this is a new electrician for me, how did he do?" They will like giving their "expert opinion" and it will give you good feedback on your contractors. Lastly get a business card. It can come in handy down the road if you have a question or if you are dealing with another difficult inspector within the same city. Getting a favorite inspector assigned to a job can really help keep the budget and schedule on target.