There are several reasons why a Realtor should recommend a good home inspector to their client, but the main reasons are because it is good for their clients and good for business. Realtors who do not recommend an inspection may be held liable for undisclosed problems, while realtors who recommend poor home inspectors, in order to try to get a deal through, put their licenses and their reputations on the line. On the other hand, realtors who recommend a good home inspector will receive higher client satisfaction and many more referrals.

When a Realtor Does Not Recommend an Inspector at all

A realtor was recently found liable for $200,000 in damages when the driveway of a house he sold collapsed. Later it was discovered that the house and driveway had a terribly poor foundation, having been built on a landfill. Unfortunately, the realtor had not recommended a professional home inspection before the home had been purchased. This small mention could have revealed the issue before the collapse of the driveway and the collapse of the realtor’s reputation and finances. Many realtors take the same unnecessary risk every day by skipping what has become an essential and often legally required part of the process of buying and selling homes. A home buyer should always get a home inspection, even if it is a new home that looks immaculate.

When a Realtor Recommends a Bad Inspector

Everybody has heard the line, "Do not trust a realtor-recommended home inspector, there’s a conflict of interest." It is understandable to a degree. Realtors very well may perceive certain home inspectors as so-called "deal killers." However, a distinction needs to be made between "deal killers" who provide an inaccurate or unfair inspection and those who perform a good, thorough inspection that uncovers real problems. Home buyers should always do their own homework before hiring a home inspector. They should research multiple inspectors and find the one that works best for them. A neglectful home inspector will ultimately cast a bad light on not only themselves and their business, but on the Realtor as well. This leads to unhappy clients and less referrals.

When a Realtor Recommends a Good Inspector

If a good home inspector reveals major problems that kill a deal, the realtor should be thankful that a bad deal was not struck. In fact, most realtors really do want clients to choose a good home inspector so their client has a great home buying experience and buys a quality property. This is the best way to gain referrals from their past clients, which is a huge part of getting new business. A fair and accurate report is crucial to the home buying experience and ultimately client satisfaction, and it takes a skilled home inspector to put a home's attributes and problem areas into proper perspective. The buyer will feel better making such a large investment when potential problems are disclosed and taken into account during the sales deal. And the realtor will know that every effort has been made to make the property transaction a success. Not only is recommending a good inspector the smart business move, it is the right thing to do.

Realtors aim to make a living by finding clients their dream homes, so their paychecks and their clients’ satisfaction go hand-in-hand. To a large extent their clients’ satisfaction depends on a good home inspection. Therefore, every realtor should recommend a good home inspector.