Would You Buy This House? (Or Commercial Building?)

Howdy,

Clients ask me this question constantly: “Would you buy this property?” Residential buyers ask it. Commercial investors ask it. And I understand why—defects can trigger uncertainty and fear.

If you’re asking your inspector whether you should buy the property, you’re not prepared to buy it.

That’s not a criticism—it’s clarity. Buying real estate requires:

• A clear investment plan
• A defined risk tolerance
• A full due-diligence strategy
• A team of advisors (agent, lender, legal, financial)
• The understanding that you’re buying the location and return, not structural perfection

Most properties—residential or commercial—have defects. That alone should not derail a well-researched deal.

Why inspectors cannot answer this question

If I said “yes” and something goes wrong—buyers feel misled. If I said “no”—buyers walk away from good deals based on my personal bias.

Either way: nobody wins.

My role is to evaluate the condition. Not to influence your financial decision.

A commercial red flag

When a commercial client asks this question, it’s an immediate signal that:

• Investment criteria are undefined
• Risk tolerances aren’t established
• A structured due-diligence process is missing

If your go/no-go decision hinges on whether an inspector personally “likes” the building, you’re not ready for commercial real estate—yet.

My actual answer

“I can’t answer that for you. Only you can.”

But I can give you the information needed to make the decision:

• Defects
• Implications
• Risks
• Cost-to-cure
• Long-term planning

With that, you—and your advisors—decide whether the purchase aligns with your goals.

If inspectors did answer this question, it would cause real harm

If I told clients “No, I wouldn’t buy this,” I could:

• Reduce liability by killing deals
• Create repeat business as you shop endlessly

If I told clients “Yes, I would,” I could:

• Influence purchases
• Cause buyer’s remorse
• Be blamed if issues arise later

Answering the question does not benefit the buyer or the inspector. It only introduces bias.

The yin/yang of real estate

Healthy real estate transactions require balance.

Agents: help you see potential
Inspectors: help you see reality

If you have too much “yin” or too much “yang,” something is off. A strong transaction requires:

• Unbiased information
• Clear expectations
• Smart due diligence
• Strategic decision-making

Your inspection report is only one part of due diligence

The inspection is not the decision-maker. It is one slice of the full investigation.

Your due diligence should include:

• Inspection findings
• Insurance history
• Title work
• Appraisal
• Market analysis
• Repair budgeting
• Environmental considerations
• CAP rates / ROI (for commercial)

When you combine all these, the answer becomes clear—without needing the inspector to choose for you.