Should I use a home inspector recommended by a listing agent?

Answer: Not sure
Explanation: Your listing agent will most likely have names of home inspectors and there is nothing wrong with using them. I would say that you should still take some time and research inspectors on your own.

Answer: No, it is a conflict of interest
Explanation: We have our own unbiased certified home inspectors to serve our personal clients best interests.

Answer: Yes
Explanation: Listing Agents often work with a certain inspector or group of inspectors they have worked with in the past and have a good working relationship with. When choosing an inspector, it's acceptable to take their recommendation because inspectors should be working under a strict Code of Ethics, as do the InterNACHI trained inspectors working for Shedhorn Inspection Services, and therefore should always be acting in the best interest of their client, not the realtor.

Answer: Yes
Explanation: This is not a problem as long as you trust your agent, and there is no undisclosed financial relationship between agent and inspector.

Answer: Yes
Explanation: All realtors have a list of inspectors they can give but it is up to the client to choose - the Realtor will not pick the inspector.

Answer: Not sure
Explanation: If the listing agent was to recommend a specific home inspector, I would be cautious. Everyone's situation is different. It is common for YOUR realtor/broker to supply a list of home inspectors that they may prefer. However, it is ultimately your decision and you should do a little homework. Not all inspectors are the same. You should call and talk with them and ask questions. Look at reviews online and get a feel for who you are comfortable with.

Answer: No, it is a conflict of interest
Explanation: It is generally a good idea to select your own home inspector. While most realtors are ethical, the mutual business opportunities that exist between a real estate agent and a home inspector whome they have a relationship with can cause a conflict of interest. Is it best to do your own research -- use sites like Yelp, Angieslist or ask your network of friends when selecting a home inspector.

Answer: Yes
Explanation: As long as you use the listing agent for the Buyer (usually you) there should not be an issue.

Answer: Yes
Explanation: Your Realtor knows a lot of inspectors and how thorough they are when inspecting your new home. A Realtor should give you a list of trusted and experienced licensed home inspectors with phone numbers and allow you to contact each of them to see which one you feel most comfortable, about 3 should do it.

Answer: Not sure
Explanation: It really is up to you. If you don't know a home inspector and want to use one that is suggested that is fine. If by chance you know someone you like to use or just want to find one yourself then that is what you should do. When listing or buying a home you should use whichever professional you feel most comfortable with.

Answer: No, it is a conflict of interest
Explanation: You need a a good home inspector, one that's easy to deal with and who will explain the property features to you. One that your buyer realtor has dealt with in the past is sure to have the skills required. Steer clear of one recommended by the listing agent as that one may be biased in favor of the seller.

Answer: Yes
Explanation: It is ultimately up to you who you choose to perform your home inspection. Your Realtor generally will have your best interests in mind when they pass along referrals. Always look for a Certified Master Inspector - they are the best of the best when it comes to home inspections.

Answer: No, it is a conflict of interest
Explanation: Your agent should give you 2-3 home inspection companies to call . You should call all of them and see whom you like the best.

Answer: Not sure
Explanation: I am an independent inspector and have real estate professionals that refer me to their clients. I do not receive any monetary incentives from them. I can not speak for other inspectors though.

Answer: No, it is a conflict of interest
Explanation: In my opinion, there could be a potential conflict of interest. I would feel much more comfortable utilizing a licensed inspector that I could recommend, or.....one that you know.

Answer: Yes
Explanation: As long as the agent is referring a professional home inspector and there is no conflict of interest or collusion. Many agents typically refer 3 home inspectors to the client, and let the client choose which inspector they want to use.

Answer: No, it is a conflict of interest
Explanation: I believe you should not use listing agents recommendations there might be a conflict of interest.

Answer: Not sure
Explanation: Some people are comfortable with their realtor's recommended home inspector. Some people would rather do some research and choose and inspector based on references and public profile.

Answer: No, it is a conflict of interest
Explanation: Buyer should use their own Inspectors, possibly recommendations from the selling/buyer broker

Answer: No, it is a conflict of interest
Explanation: The listing agent represents the home owners,not the buyers.

Answer: Yes
Explanation: I believe referrals are a great asset to your business because it allows you to get information on a service provider from previous clients. It can save you time and money and put you in touch with the right person for your business.

Answer: Yes
Explanation: In most cases the agent has worked with multiple inspectors and will have more insight to the competency of an inspector. Most home owners have had a very few chances to work with a home inspector so it is much harder to know how good they are.

Answer: Yes
Explanation: For the most part, Agents deal with the day to day fundamentals of home selling and buying. Why it is probably best to research the inspector yourself. Most agents are hired by our clients and therefore should be trusted or not.

Answer: Yes
Explanation: Home inspectors are required to give an impartial review of all the major systems and the overall condition of the house. It is against the standards of practice to sway the sale of the home one way or the other.

Answer: No, it is a conflict of interest
Explanation: The use of a Inspector recommended by a listing agent could lead to a bias on the inspectors part towards the listing agent in order to retain the recommendations coming from the agent.

Answer: Yes
Explanation: In my experience, licensed professionals like real estate agents and home inspectors should not risk their integrity for a paycheck. There is too much at risk. I am expected to perform a home inspection for my client, not the agent.

Answer: Not sure
Explanation: Some realtors offer a list of several inspectors for their client to use, if a realtor pushed one of the other, the realtor may be offering a biased opinion

Answer: No, it is a conflict of interest
Explanation: Best recommended practice is to find your own inspector, they are neutral. often an inspector recommended by agent knows what will slow the buying process and avoid some of the details so that it will not slow the buying process, we all like to live the fast food life style, but this is not the area you want to apply speed, it will often take me up to 6-8 hours for a home inspection, if i see new paint it could be longer. it is my job to find the hidden problems in a home.... nothing but the facts dano! In the state of Colorado it is not necessary to have a certified inspection what i mean by that is most of the home inspectors are not certified. I would only look at certified home inspectors. As a ASHI certified inspector we have completed 120 hour of training and we are certified we speak house! we are required to completed continued training every year.

Answer: No, it is a conflict of interest
Explanation: It is best to shop for inspector or if there is a recommendation. Word of mouth is a good indicator

Answer: Not sure
Explanation: Some times it can be a conflict of interest.

Answer: Yes
Explanation: The listing agent should know of some good ones that they have used for a while. Just ask if they offer an inspection warranty with the inspection.

Answer: Not sure
Explanation: It depends. If a buyer is using an agent that is not familiar with the area, the listing agent may be able to refer a reputable home inspector in the area. It is always a good idea to do your research and check the company out online.

Answer: Not sure
Explanation: Your agent should recommend 2 or 3 inspectors. Your inspector should have your best interest in mind. A inspector should not feel obligated to the agent.

Answer: Not sure
Explanation: It depends on the particular situation. It can perfectly fine in some cases. Maybe not, in others. A buyer should really be represented by an agent, who will act as their advocate

Answer: Yes
Explanation: A good inspector is not swayed by the number of inspections he or she may get from a particular listing agent. A good inspector will generate a honest and non-biased report based solely on their findings at the time of the inspection.

Answer: No, it is a conflict of interest
Explanation: No, ethically speaking that would be a conflict of intrest. The selling agent is going to try and make the sale of the property go through. That inspector may not have the buyers best intrest at heart.

Answer: Yes
Explanation: check credentials

Answer: Yes
Explanation: As a Certified Home Inspector, I am bound by a professional code of conduct and not influenced by any outside interests.

Answer: No, it is a conflict of interest
Explanation: A home inspector should be independent.

Answer: Yes
Explanation: Listing agents can be helpful in supplying you with names of home inspectors in your area and should supply you with multiple names to select from. Do your homework and check out the inspectors in your area. Their website should list where they have been trained, certifications they have, and the services they offer.

Answer: No, it is a conflict of interest
Explanation: Illinois rule

Answer: No, it is a conflict of interest
Explanation: A home buyer should be certain that they are getting an objective inspection always.

Answer: Yes
Explanation: It does not matter who recommends an inspector as long as the inspector does what is required by law .

Answer: No, it is a conflict of interest
Explanation: As an informed buyer, you should do your homework on several inspection companies. typically, a home inspector recommended by the listing agent might have a conflict of interest. That inspector might overlook some "deal breaking" items so that agent does not loose the listing and that he continues to get referrals.

Answer: Yes
Explanation: If you trust your agent call the referral and ask some questions.

Answer: Yes
Explanation: Agents have a good history with the inspectors they refer

Answer: No, it is a conflict of interest
Explanation: Buyer or seller choice. Not agent.

Answer: Yes
Explanation: Realtors are entrusted to abide by fair and honest practices throughout the buying and selling process. Consider this, if a Realtor recommends an inspector, they have a working history. More importantly, the Realtor is willing to trust that Inspector with their professional reputation.

Answer: No, it is a conflict of interest
Explanation: While the inspector who the listing agent recommends may in fact be a great inspector in my personal opinion there are too many variables in a listing agent recommending a home inspector and you should seek outside representation. The listing agent may be recommending a soft inspector that could come back with a favorable report for the seller. By delivering a soft report you may not be fully made aware of the defects within the home or the defects could possibly be downplayed as not an issue. Remember you want an inspector that is soley working for you.

Answer: No, it is a conflict of interest
Explanation: I would always look for the highest rated by customers not agents

Answer: Yes
Explanation: You sure can take a recommendation. The decision to take a recommendation of a listing agent or your buyer's agent is a personal decision and has to be based on trust. Is the agent looking out for your interests or are they trying to close the sale? We work with a lot of agents and most often they want a good inspection as nothing looks worse than having undiscovered issues coming back after the close on the property.

Answer: No, it is a conflict of interest
Explanation: Reffered inspectors often have a long history with a realtor. Often times there is a negative reason for this. Soft reports and listing favorable reports. I always suggest family suggested or word of mouth inspectors. This will guarantee you get an unbiased opinion of the homes systems.

Answer: Not sure
Explanation: You should take into consideration the advice your Realtor gives you, if they are listing Realtor or not. You should also conduct your own research because you are the hiring party paying the fee.

Answer: No, it is a conflict of interest
Explanation: The listing agent works for the seller. You want to choose an inspector that will work for you and on your behalf, not the sellers. Your buyer's agent can recommend some they know work well for their buyers.

Answer: Not sure
Explanation: It would depend on your comfort level with your realtor. Some realtors have used inspectors for years and can trust them to be honest

Answer: Yes
Explanation: Really this comes down to what you as the buyer or seller is comfortable with. You are always welcome to look for and hire your own Home Inspector. Usually the agent and the home inspector are familiar with each other and understand that the Inspector is working for the customer not the agent.

Answer: Yes
Explanation: I've never met an agent who didn't want his or her buyers to have full disclosure, but that's not to say every agent puts the buyer's interests first. However, I can assure you it would be extreme for an agent to pressure a home inspector to provide a faulty report. It's simply not standard practice. No reputable real estate agent will withhold information from a buyer or induce a third-party vendor to withhold information.

Answer: Yes
Explanation: Your Realtor has likely had experience with many different inspectors. They will recommend ones who they know will do a good job.

Answer: No, it is a conflict of interest
Explanation: It's always a good policy to use a third party inspector that the buyer chooses.

Answer: Not sure
Explanation: Most agents will recommend a home inspector. If you think your agent is really looking out for your very best interest then they likely have an inspector that will do the same. Our company spends more time than others on an inspection and we tend to find more issues than others. Many agents don't want us to spend more time and find more issues. I think the good ones do!

Answer: Yes
Explanation: You may choose to go with our recommendations or not it's up to the client. We are required to give at least 3 contractors to our clients.

Answer: No, it is a conflict of interest
Explanation: You should always find an independent home inspector who was not in cahoots with a real estate agent if a real estate agent provide you with a list of people to choose from and let the option to be yours that's a different story but if they only give you one option I would be very wary.

Answer: Yes
Explanation: Yes,But you should thoroughly investigate his/her qualifications on your own.

Answer: Yes
Explanation: I answered yes to this questions with a few caveat to the answer. Any agent when recommending a service should provide you with 3 names and numbers. As a listing agent that is listing your home, they will want to make sure that you get a good inspection so no issue will come up when should a buyer pull another inspection. If you are a buyer and the seller did a pre home inspection and you are thinking about using that inspection report, look at the date of the report and check out the company to make your determination

Answer: No, it is a conflict of interest
Explanation: Use an inspector recommended by your buyers agent. He or she should have a list of multiple qualified inspectors to choose from. It is important to have many inspectors to choose from, as they are very busy and can get only 2-3 done per day. You will have time constraints on the purchase agreement.

Answer: Not sure
Explanation: Not sure, almost all home inspector work independently and use programs that are setup by a national program. With that said, I would always suggest that you interview a couple of home inspectors and choose that one that you feel the best about.

Answer: Yes
Explanation: Agents will tend to want to recommend an inspector that they already know works well with them and their clients. Some agents just ask buyers to find their own if it is the agents policy.

Answer: Yes
Explanation: You can do this, we are often recommended by listing agents, we are an objective 3d party & report what we find regardless of who recommends us. We do recommend you read reviews of your inspector & ask if your inspector is a trained & citified InterNACHI inspector.

Answer: Yes
Explanation: Clients do not have the obligation to use a home inspector that a real estate agent recommended. It is just a recommendation.

Answer: No, it is a conflict of interest
Explanation: This is a potential conflict of interest. The home buyer should have the freedom to engage any Home Inspection Company that he/she believes will give a thorough, accurate, and unbiased home inspection.

Answer: No, it is a conflict of interest
Explanation: The buyer's agent may make a recommendation, but the listing agent works for the owner and it is in their best interest NOT to find any problems with the home.

Answer: No, it is a conflict of interest
Explanation: The answer is yes and no; Most of the time agents will give you a list of 3 or more inspectors or all those affiliated with the local MLS, or Listing association- call all of them, find out how long they have been in business, are they part time or full time. You should also check with friends and family and do some poking around the web.

Answer: No, it is a conflict of interest
Explanation: You would always be better served to choose your own inspector or one recommended by your buyers agent.

Answer: No, it is a conflict of interest
Explanation: This practice is considered a conflict of interest.

Answer: Yes
Explanation: Yes, usually your listing agent has already built the rapport and trust with that inspector. and they will know which inspector is a good fit for the job.