Why to avoid home inspectors recommended by real estate agents

Homebuyers regularly count on their real estate agent for vendor recommendations – like attorneys, lenders, contractors, and home inspectors. But its home inspectors recommended by your real estate agent that you may want to avoid.

Home inspectors provide a critical function in the home buying process. A home inspector provides an examination of a home’s structure and systems, so homebuyers are aware of the condition of the house prior to purchase. Homebuyers, making use of their contract’s inspection contingency clause, may be able to cancel the contract or negotiate repairs or credits based on the home inspection findings. It’s also an excellent exercise to learn about the house and how to better maintain it.

While real estate agents have an inherent, legal, and ethical obligation to always work in their client’s best interest, and largely want to provide great vendor recommendations, the home inspector provides the unique quandary that their “success” in identifying problems can and does kill transactions. Even though most real estate agents want what is best for their client, they also hate to see deals fall apart.

Some real estate agents may hesitate to recommend home inspectors that have a higher propensity to scare off buyers and derail a home purchase. Inversely, some home inspectors want to please the real estate agent that referred them.

Sure, some home inspectors are overzealous, and some skittish homebuyers get cold feet over very fixable problems, but if you would rather error on the side of overzealousness over inattentiveness then you may be better off finding a home inspector on your own and politely ignoring your real estate agent’s suggested inspectors.

To find a home inspector:

1. Ask friends or family for suggestions.

2. Check with your local REALTOR® association for their list of vendor (affiliate) members – often they are listed right on the association’s website. For a list of state and local REALTOR® associations, click here.

3. Use the Find a Home Inspector function on the American Society of Home Inspectors’ website.

4. Conduct internet research, including review sites.

Additionally, when interviewing home inspectors, ask them about their professional background, the number of home inspections they have conducted, a sample of their home inspection reports, how much they charge, and for references.

Home inspections are invaluable. Make sure your home inspector is working to please you, not your real estate agent.

Howard Handler is a real estate matchmaker. Using a highly personalized approach, he connects real estate buyers and sellers with highly qualified real estate professionals -- all at no cost. A licensed real estate broker since 2004, for 12 years he served as an exclusive lobbyist for the Illinois Association of REALTORS®. If you need the services of an exceptional real estate agent, please visit: www.AgentMatch.realestate