How to recommend a home inspector
Recommend a home inspector by giving your buyer two or three names you have seen work, and let the buyer choose and book. Before an inspector goes on your list, read one of their sample reports, check their state license where your state issues one, and ask which standard of practice they follow.
How do you recommend a home inspector?
Hand your buyer two or three names with a phone number for each, and let them make the call. Add one sentence on why each inspector is on your list, such as "her reports come with photos of every finding" or "he gets on the roof when it's safe to." Then leave the choice and the booking to the buyer.
Two or three is the same number that works for every trade. Here's how many vendors per trade belong on your list, and why.
What should you check before an inspector goes on your list?
Check four things, and write down the date you checked each one. The dates tell you which checks are due again on your yearly pass.
- Read a full sample report from start to finish. Look for clear photos, plain-language findings and a summary a buyer can act on.
- Look up the inspector's state license if your state licenses home inspectors, and note the number and status.
- Ask which standard of practice they follow. The InterNACHI standard, for example, describes a home inspection as a non-invasive, visual examination of the accessible areas of a home, so a buyer shouldn't expect it to find everything.
- Ask how soon the buyer gets the report. A report that arrives two days into a five-day inspection window leaves little room to negotiate.
The same checks work for roofers, plumbers and the rest of your list. Here's how to vet a contractor before you recommend them.
Should real estate agents make recommendations for home inspectors?
Yes, when the buyer asks and your state and brokerage allow it. Buyers ask because they don't know where to start, but some also worry that an inspector the agent picked will go easy on the house. A short list with the buyer making the final pick answers both concerns.
The rules on who may recommend an inspector, and how, aren't the same in every state. Ask your broker what applies to you before you hand out names. If a buyer asks whether they should use your pick, you can send them this guide on checking the inspector their agent recommends.
Why should the buyer book the inspection themselves?
The inspector works for the buyer, so the buyer should be the one who hires them. When the buyer picked the inspector and made the call, nobody can say you chose someone who'd go easy on the house. Your job is to hand over the names and then stay out of the scheduling. You can still come for the walk-through at the end, and here's why it helps to be at the inspection.
Once the report is in, your buyer decides what to ask the seller to fix. Here's what comes next in repairs after a home inspection.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm details with your state's licensing board or your broker.
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Keep your inspectors on your Proferral list
In Proferral, you can add your inspectors as providers under the Home inspector trade, with a note on each one. Your buyers open the list from a link, with no app and no login, and they still make the call to the inspector themselves.
It's free, no credit card needed, and you're never charged unless you choose Pro.