by Desmond Thornton | Jun 24, 2025 | Informational Material
There’s a moment when silence becomes too costly.
The real estate industry has protected that silence for decades—layered it in timing, wrapped it in contracts, buried it beneath phrases like “as-is” and “buyer beware.” But now, the silence has started to echo. And that echo sounds a lot like regret.
Buyers regret skipping inspections.
Sellers regret deals gone sideways.
Agents regret the lawsuits they never saw coming.
Inspectors regret being used, then blamed.
And underneath it all is a question nobody wants to ask out loud:
What if we’ve built this entire process on the wrong foundation?
The Timing Problem Wasn’t Just a Flaw — It Was the Design
In Part 3, we looked at why pre-listing inspections failed. It wasn’t because they didn’t make sense. It’s because the system was never designed to support them.
Sellers feared disclosure. Agents feared control loss. Buyers were trained to wait.
But what if we flipped the script?
Not just by changing *when* the inspection happens—but by changing *who controls the truth.*
Because right now, the buyer isn’t protected. The seller isn’t protected. The agent isn’t protected. And the one person who tells the truth—the inspector—is often punished for it.
So what if we started from scratch?
Imagine a World Where…
The seller could authorize an inspection
*Without paying a dime upfront!
* The report **wasn’t theirs**—so they weren’t legally responsible for disclosure
* The agent **couldn’t filter or delay** what was found
* The buyer could **review the inspection** before making an offer
* The inspector was free to tell the **whole truth** without fear of retaliation
This isn’t fantasy.
This isn’t rebellion for rebellion’s sake.
This is **a system that honors transparency by design—not just principle.**
And it does one thing the current model never could:
> It breaks the cycle of pressure.
Buyers Deserve a Clear View Before the Pitch
Right now, buyers are asked to fall in love with a home *before* they know what the challenges are with it.
They tour it. They imagine their life there. They compete with other offers. And only *after* they win do they learn whether they just bought a dream—or a disaster.
That’s backwards.
Imagine a buyer seeing the report first. Understanding the repairs. Knowing the history. Evaluating the investment. Then deciding if it’s right. That’s **what due diligence was always meant to be.*
And if the house isn’t right? They move on—without losing earnest money, wasting weeks, or feeling betrayed.
Sellers Deserve Simplicity Without Liability.
Sellers, especially in high-stakes markets, are often told to stay silent. Don’t ask. Don’t test. Don’t disclose.
But what if they could green-light an inspection without seeing the results? No responsibility. No liability. Just an opportunity to attract serious buyers who already know the truth—and want to buy anyway.
The best part? The seller doesn’t have to pay unless a certain number of buyers fail to purchase the report. And even then, it’s the buyer—not the seller—who purchases the data. This shifts the financial burden away from the seller, unless the market shows no interest.
No more fear-based silence. Just clear, simple distance between the seller and the findings.
Agents Deserve Protection for Doing the Right Thing.
Agents shouldn’t have to walk the ethical tightrope. And inspectors walk one too—not ethical, but relational. We’re expected to protect the buyer, tell the truth, and still earn five-star reviews and future referrals from agents who may not want to hear that truth.
They shouldn’t have to choose between a transparent deal and a fast paycheck.
They shouldn’t be punished for connecting buyers and sellers to the truth.
This system gives them cover. It removes the conflict.
No more gatekeeping. No more backroom pressure. Just clean deals that close smoother, faster, and with less drama.
Builders Deserve a System That Honors Their Craft.
Builders face enormous liability pressure from post-sale surprises. Even when they build it right, poor timing or bad inspections can lead to lawsuits, delays, or reputation damage.
With this model:
* Builders can opt into a third-party inspection before listing
* Buyers see what’s right and what needs attention without finger-pointing
* Transparency becomes an asset—not a weapon
Pride in construction meets pride in honesty. The builders who stand behind their work now have a system that stands with them.
And Inspectors Deserve to Be Truth-Tellers, Not Scapegoats
The inspector has one job: tell the truth about the property. But in today’s system, that truth often gets filtered, suppressed, or weaponized. Inspectors have been blacklisted for doing their job too well. Others have been sued for what buyers didn’t read. The report—meant to be a safeguard—becomes a source of blame.
This model fixes that. It makes the report neutral. It makes the inspector a resource, not a risk. And it gives the buyer full access to that truth—before emotions, negotiations, and pressure cloud the picture.
The Answer Was Never Just an Inspection. It Was a Shift in Power.
You can’t fix a system with Band-Aids.
You have to rewire the incentives.
You have to remove the pressure.
You have to start with **honesty—not marketing.**
What’s coming next isn’t a product. It’s not a pitch.
It’s a philosophy.
A protocol.
A system that already exists.
It’s called the Good Faith Inspection Program — and it’s patent pending.
And it’s going to make a lot of people uncomfortable.
Because it doesn’t protect the old way. It protects the truth.
**Coming Soon in Part 5: The Cost of Truth — When Integrity Gets You Boycotted**
by Desmond Thornton | May 9, 2025 | Informational Material
No two homes in Chattanooga are the same.
Some were built over 80 years ago. Others have just finished construction. Some sit on the valley floor. Others rest on the slope of Lookout Mountain. This kind of variety makes our city special, but it also means a basic, checklist-style home inspection isn’t enough.
We’ve seen it all. And we’ve learned that a proper inspection in Chattanooga must match the home.
Older homes hide older issues.
Neighborhoods like St. Elmo, Brainerd, and North Shore are full of charm, but they often come with aging plumbing, electrical work, or hidden leaks. These aren’t things most buyers can spot during a showing. But they’re the kind of issues that show up after move-in, when it’s already too late.
New builds come with new risks.
Even new homes in areas like Apison or Ooltewah can have hidden problems. Sometimes it’s rushed work. Other times, it’s overlooked details like missing insulation or drainage issues.
We don’t assume a home is perfect just because it’s new. We inspect everything.
Waterfront and mountain homes are special cases.
If you’re near water or on a hillside, expect extra pressure on foundations, more moisture, and different types of wear. These homes need an inspector who understands what to look for, because not all damage is obvious.
Why are our inspections different?
We don’t just run through a checklist. We look at the type of home, where it sits, how it was built, and how long it’s been standing. From historic bungalows to smart homes, we tailor the inspection to the property.
We’ve worked with families, investors, first-time buyers, and sellers who just want a smoother sale.
If you’re not looking under the surface, you don’t really know what you’re buying (or selling).
You only get one shot at a smooth sale!
by Desmond Thornton | May 3, 2025 | Informational Material
You’ve built the home. You’ve lived in it.
You’ve cared for every detail.
But the moment it hits the market, the focus shifts—from everything you’ve done right, to what might be wrong.
That’s the reality of today’s real estate market—and it’s exactly why pre-listing inspections are no longer a luxury. They’re becoming the standard.
The Hidden Pressure of Today’s Home Sale
Whether you’re a builder handing over a brand-new project or a homeowner saying goodbye to a place you’ve invested in for years, the selling process brings real pressure.
Not just financial pressure, but emotional, reputational, and logistical.
Here’s what happens without a pre-inspection:
• A buyer falls in love with the home… until their inspector finds something.
• You’re asked to cut the price, fix it fast, or lose the deal.
• Confidence fades. Trust breaks. Everyone scrambles.
It’s not that you did something wrong. It’s that you weren’t in control of the timing.
What is a Pre-Inspection? ( And why is it a smarter first step? )
A pre-listing inspection is a professional home inspection done before your property is listed for sale. Rather than waiting for a buyer’s inspector to uncover issues during the contract phase, you get ahead of the process and control the narrative from day one.
But the real power of pre-inspections today isn’t just early insight.
It’s the message it sends: “We have nothing to hide.”
Why Sellers and Builders Are Leading This Trend
1. It protects your PRICE
Buyers love leverage. If their inspector finds a problem, they’ll use it. Pre-inspections give you a chance to fix what matters or price accordingly so you don’t lose thousands in surprise renegotiations.
2. It speeds up the SALE
Informed buyers make faster decisions. If they can review a trusted inspection upfront, they don’t have to pause to schedule their own. That means quicker offers and fewer delays.
3. It puts you in CONTROL
You choose when the inspection happens. You decide what to fix and what to disclose. You prevent last-minute chaos and take the process back into your hands.
4. It builds buyer TRUST
When you share a third-party inspection upfront, you disarm suspicion. You shift the conversation from “What’s wrong with this place?” to “How soon can we close?”
GOOD FAITH INSPECTION PROGRAM: Pre-listing with a purpose
At Thornton Home Inspections, we’ve seen too many good deals fall apart because the inspection came too late.
That’s why we built the Good Faith Inspection Program (GFIP)- a modern, transparent way to do pre-inspections that:
• Costs you nothing upfront
• Gives buyers access before they offer
• Keeps the report out of your hands so buyers know it’s real
• Refunds you fully if 3 or more buyers purchase the report
Whether you’re a homeowner, seller, or builder, GFIP lets you lead with confidence and eliminate the guesswork that slows everything down.
The Bottom Line: Waiting Comes at a Cost
Buyers don’t want uncertainty.
You don’t want surprises.
And no one wants to renegotiate after the paperwork starts.
Pre-inspections aren’t just a smart move anymore. They’re becoming the new norm.
And in a market that rewards clarity, trust, and speed, the earlier you lead with truth, the better your results.
If you’re planning to sell, ask yourself this:
Would I rather control the conversation or respond to it under pressure?
Let’s put the facts on the table first.
Let’s sell smarter!
by Desmond Thornton | Apr 28, 2025 | Informational Material
If you’ve ever had a buyer walk away after a home inspection, you know the frustration:
The listing looks great, interest is high, and then—boom. A surprise repair or negotiation sends the deal into a tailspin.
But what if you could get ahead of the inspection… without paying upfront?
What if buyers could purchase your inspection report… and you might even get your money back?
That’s exactly what the Good Faith Inspection Program (GFIP) was built for.
The Problem: Post-Inspection Fallout
For many sellers, the home inspection feels like a ticking time bomb.
Everything can seem on track until the buyer’s inspector uncovers issues that:
Trigger repair demands
Delay closing timelines
Lead to renegotiation
Or worse, cause the buyer to walk
It’s stressful. And often, these issues weren’t even deal breakers — just surprises that came too late in the process.
The Solution: The Good Faith Inspection Program
GFIP flips the script on the traditional inspection process by giving sellers and agents a smarter, more transparent system—before the listing goes live.
Here’s how it works:
The home is inspected before listing
Sellers pay nothing upfront for the inspection.
Buyers scan a QR code at the property
They can instantly purchase a discounted report to review.
If 3 or more buyers purchase the report
The seller is refunded 100 percent of the inspection cost.
Buyers feel informed and confident
They make offers with fewer surprises and less back-and-forth.
Why It Works
GFIP was designed to remove friction and build trust across the board:
For Sellers: No upfront cost. More leverage in negotiation. Better odds of a clean closing.
For Buyers: Early insight into the home. Fewer surprises. Optional walkthroughs available.
For Agents: More confident listings. Fewer fall-throughs. Shorter closing timelines.
And here’s the best part: If your buyer wants to do their own inspection later, they still can. GFIP just gives them a head start.
Inspections don’t have to mean uncertainty.
With GFIP, sellers and agents can approach the process differently—calmly, openly, and with no upfront costs.
It’s a practical way to keep your deal moving forward.
Curious if GFIP could make your next sale smoother?
Learn more >>
by Desmond Thornton | Oct 31, 2022 | First Home Buyers, Home Inspections, Home Maintenance, Informational Material
When looking for a home inspector, it’s good to know what to look for. Every home inspector claims to be the best and offers the best service. But actually finding the right inspector is and can be the most challenging part of the home buying process. When choosing an inspector, the first thing you want to do is evaluate what the home inspectors offer, the price point they charge, and the reviews that they have.
When looking at the services a home inspector offers you want to make sure that they offer more than just a generic run-of-the-mill inspection. Instead, you want to make sure they offer a wide variety such as sewer/septic tank inspections, pest, mold, water, foundation, and radon testing inspections are some inspections you might want. It’s important that the inspector you have is qualified, and certified, and offers the ability to inspect what you need.
The next thing is to look at the price point. You want to make sure you are paying a market competitive price for the square footage you need to be inspected. This could be as simple as getting a quote from other inspectors, or just using an inspector that is highly reviewed and trusted in your area. Either way, anywhere from $400-$1,200 is what could be expected for a reasonable 1,500-square-foot home inspection.
The last and most credible part of choosing an inspector is looking at the reviews. You want a company that has a high number of reviews and a high star rating. Anything over 4 stars is ideal and if they have more than 200 reviews, then you’re off to a good start. You can find the highest-rated home inspectors HERE if you need a reference of one we love and trust. One last note is to not use the home inspector your realtor recommends. Oftentimes, realtors will pay or use inspectors that will help the house sell, rather than find all of the details wrong with the house.
