Peak Home Inspection Services

Initial Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2015/07/15) */
Contact Name and Title: Phillip W[redacted]
Contact Phone: [redacted]
Contact Email: [redacted]
To be clear in this matter the complainant is not my customer, but the owner of a home we inspected.
My customer is the buyer.
During the...

course of a home inspection, we operate as many appliances, plumbing fixtures lights and switches as possible to ascertain that items are in working order. When deficient items are found, we report them as needing repair or replacement so our client can negotiate repairs before completing the home buying transaction.
When the faucet in question was turned on, it simply would not shut off completely. The home was circa 1960's, so there were no water shut off valves in the bathrooms (typical for age) We had to either shut off the hot water in the basement to the upstairs bath or leave the water running. We reported the problem to our client and finished the inspection (around 6:30 or 7:00 PM)
I admit being at fault for forgetting to leave the owner a note, and apologized for the inconvenience it caused her. I do however disagree that we broke the faucet simply by turning it on. If a family member or friend had the same experience, it would be the fault of the faucet, but the owner's assumption here is that if you are an inspector, you must have broken it. I feel that is an unfair assumption. The next person to turn it on would have the same result. I have broken a few things by accident over the last 22 years of inspecting and notified the seller and paid for repairs when I was at fault.
When I returned to show the owner the issue and the location of the shut off valve, she thanked me for my explanation and apologized for taking up my time. I was under the impression the issue was resolved, so I was taken aback when I was notified of the complaint.
I have been in business for many years, have built a good reputation, and do not want anyone to feel they have been taken advantage of.
If she has some evidence from her plumber that the faucet was broken by misuse and not from worn out parts or mineral deposits, I would be glad to make it right with her. She has my business card and could have called me anytime (and still can) to discuss it further.