How Real Estate Agents create liability for themselves in referring 3 Home Inspectors

I heard you speak today in KC and I really learned a lot. You made me think, which is good! I thought I was protecting myself. You made some great points. I told you I would use this!

I thank the realtor for offering me names of inspectors. Those are the ones I WON'T use! Conflict of interest. Clear & simple. She's licking her chops for that commission. "Closing is just Mmmm! a few weeks away!" Last thing she wants is "no sale! Inspection didn't go well."

I definitely recommend that anyone in the process of buying a home does their own research and finds an independent third party home inspector. I'm sure most real estate agents mean well by referring an inspector but there are some that just want to make the sale and have no regard for their clients.

tampainspector10 wrote:I definitely recommend that anyone in the process of buying a home does their own research and finds an independent third party home inspector. I'm sure most real estate agents mean well by referring an inspector but there are some that just want to make the sale and have no regard for their clients.

I disagree. Agents deal with inspectors everyday. What could anyone possibly find in their "own research" to compare in any way to actual experience?

Listen to your agent. Go with the first name out of their mouth.

Cathy Schmidt wrote:I heard you speak today in KC and I really learned a lot. You made me think, which is good! I thought I was protecting myself. You made some great points. I told you I would use this!

Appreciate it. I had fun! We're coming back to KC soon - http://www.NXTlevelagents.com

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 07/10/2021 01:57 AM EDT

This video with Nathan makes the perfect case for NOT referring 3 inspectors!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u9wAOJwUlQ&t=39s

Great points Nathan! This is something we run into everyday that most realtors in Kentuckiana (Greater Louisville) area strongly believe. Its also a topic that is hard for us to push as home inspectors because of the obvious self interest in gaining the coveted spot. Thanks for sharing our knowledge!

Ohio will be starting licensing for home inspectors soon. Part of the law is that real estate agents if they refer home inspectors must refer at least three. Or the real estate agent is to refer/recommend none.

To refer none is a downgrade in providing service to the client.

No matter what the home needs to online searches and be certain to look for lots of reviews.
Home buyers also need to be certain that they are selecting a home inspection company that provides warranties. Some home inspectors will tell you that warranties are not valuable. The warranties do have value. Lot of value.

A home inspection company that provides warranties is a company that wants to protect clients the best possible.

jtroth wrote:Ohio will be starting licensing for home inspectors soon. Part of the law is that real estate agents if they refer home inspectors must refer at least three. Or the real estate agent is to refer/recommend none.

To refer none is a downgrade in providing service to the client.

No matter what the home needs to online searches and be certain to look for lots of reviews.
Home buyers also need to be certain that they are selecting a home inspection company that provides warranties. Some home inspectors will tell you that warranties are not valuable. The warranties do have value. Lot of value.

A home inspection company that provides warranties is a company that wants to protect clients the best possible.

I agree with you Jim. It is a disservice to an agents client not to research and recommend an inspection company.

Refer the Inspection Company that you think has your client's best interest at heart. Consider their professional association or licensing, report writing style, willingness to be available to the client after the inspection is completed. These are just a few of the things that differentiate inspectors. Of course, what does this inspection company offer the clients beyond the inspection report. There are many ways to support a home buyer that really do make a difference in their purchasing experience.

The best referrals we get are the agents that used us on their own home, or for their own family members.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 10/24/2019 01:08 PM EDT

We have had agents that never used us nor apparently have us on their recommended list yet, when they are personally buying a place or their kids are, they are using us or telling their kids/family to use us. Very telling when an agent recommends and uses a different company than who they recommend for their clients.

I bristle every time I hear an agent repeat the line about being required to hand out 3-4 cards. Offering the full suite of ISG services helps me bubble up through the stack of cards and makes selling on the phone much easier.

Steve Parton, President
Spectrum Inspection Group
www.spectruminspects.com

Spectrum Pest Management
www.spectrumpesmgt.com

330.289.2889
steve@spectruminspects.com

Where did the refer 3 inpectors thing ever come from? It reminds of a fender bender. Get three estimates. No get one estimate frrom the hands down best. Stop wasting so much time.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 10/26/2019 09:04 AM EDT

Let me get this straight. You're a real estate agent that your clients are trusting with the largest purchase of their life, ever. They have trusted you to help them find a home their family will grow up in and have family holidays and a million memories. And when they ask for help finding a home inspector, you decide to back off and let them wing it? It makes no sense. Find an inspector that offers peace of mind protections after the closing and everyone can live happily ever after. No one can predict the future and things do fail after an inspection. If I were an agent, I would make sure my client has the best home buying and home owning experience ever.