Property Condition Consultants vs. Specialists

Why do Consultants always recommend specialists?

Our purpose as general consultants is to look for structure or system defects, flag them and then recommend the appropriate specialist(s) for further evaluation. If we were to do the specialty examination on every part of the structure, we would be onsite hours longer and charge much more. Because the assessment is non-intrusive, the consultant can’t excavate or dismantle anything to access components. It is the specialist’s job to do a more thorough investigation of the specific system in its entirety.

For example, when your doctor recommends you see a dermatologist, at that point he probably won’t check your whole body or do exhaustive testing. Similarly, when the consultant recommends a qualified professional for a system, it may not be necessary for the consultant to continue examining that particular component at length, since he already knows you need a specialist.

Do I have to actually hire a specialist or can I just forward the Property Condition Report (PCR)?
Often, the specialist will rely solely on the PCR and not examine the system in person. We do not recommend this. When consultant’s recommendations aren’t followed and the items that he flagged aren’t physically examined comprehensively by a qualified specialist, your client has a greater risk of encountering unexpected problems in the future that likely would have been discovered by the specialist.

What if the licensed professional’s opinion conflicts with the PCR?
Occasionally, the specialist’s opinion differs from the consultant’s findings. Remember, our job is to note defects or flag anything that could be a problem. The licensed professional must then determine any actual problems and their severity. If the licensed professional challenges the consultant’s call, have him put his opinions in writing. If he’s confident in his knowledge, he will do it. If he refuses to put it in writing, you should get another opinion.