Inspector Comments

"Dennis,

Great site and very well written. I've been contemplating similar text on my web site. I have not solicited realtors in over a year. I found that I would go make a presentation at their sales office, get a few jobs but as soon as difficulties arose, I never heard from them again. I will never solicit from another realtor. I find it demeaning and I strongly agree with your observations on the ethical concerns. I will not allow a realtor to bias my reports. How can someone ethically cater to realtors and the client?"

Bill Loden,
Insight Professional Home Inspection
Huntsville, Alabama

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Dennis,

I would be proud to be listed on the "Independent Inspectors" website, and I certainly qualify. For the first three years I was in business, I dropped my flyers off at Real Estate offices hoping to build my sales through referrals. Once I realized what was expected for the referral, I stopped. I no longer want referrals from Real Estate Agents. I refuse to compromise my inspection report. I thought I was fighting this battle alone.

All of my colleagues say the right things, but many have proved, by their actions, where their allegiances lie. Then I received your e-mail. Thank you, I was getting pretty lonely. I am blacklisted in a number of local Real Estate offices, and many agents will discourage their clients from using me. Surprisingly though they recommend me to family and close friends. I have become somewhat cynical of our entire industry as I hear more successful inspectors refer to the number of agents in their "barn", and in the next breath talk about their loyalty to the 'house'. As far as I can tell, the problem is rampant. It has progressed to the point here, that selling agents have acquired the services of my competitors, who are willing to put in writing that, 'the crumbling foundation on this fourteen year old house is not a concern, it just needs parging' or that 'there is no horizontal cracking on this concrete block foundation wall' and so on. This is both scary and sad. To me it indicates that we are way down that slippery slope. I think the Massachusetts decision has the potential to save our industry.

Please count me in.

Mike Lancop
Ontario, Canada

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"Dennis,

I discovered very early by accompanying other inspectors than the consumer was not receiving very much information. The information provided was vague and hard to understand. The main focus seemed to be the protection of the inspector/Realtor relationship. This seemed to be acceptable by the consumer because they didn't know any better. I believe the consumer should be informed of the condition of the home in detail down to the smallest items. I look at myself as a reporter. I report all the conditions to the consumer which allows them to make a well informed educated decision about their home purchase. My reports are narrative and include digital photography so the consumer can easily understand and follow the report. I prefer to schedule only one inspection per day to allow me to dedicate all my resources to that individual. My focus is to protect the consumer, not a real estate agent's commission."

David L Lord
HomeTech
St Augustine, Florida
March 14, 2000

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Dennis Robitaille:

"I appreciate being linked to your website. It is encouraging to know that there are other home inspectors that believe that we should not be soliciting referral business from real estate agents. I appreciate those agents that seek my services & request that I give them business cards. They are familiar with my thorough reports & my reputation as a "deal killer." It is by their actions that I believe they strive to fully serve & protect their client's interests.

I am still angered when I have learned that my clients have been mislead & convinced by agents & other parties that I was blowing a reported defect out of proportion. In most cases my clients have had to later perform expensive major repairs & learned only too late that I had been trying to protect them. Due to the current real estate system, it is the home inspector that stands between the buyer & a potential problem. I feel that I am under a constant attack since I am known for my thorough home inspection reports. I have becomed certified by the Council of American Building Officials (CABO), The Exterior Design Institute (EIFS, synthetic stucco inspections), & becoming licensed in the State of South Carolina (I perform inspections in the lower western part of the state). I continue to serve as an ASHI candidate & am preparing for the National Home Inspectors Exam.

I look forward to the day when we will be represented by a national organization that encourages (or prohibits) its members to refrain from seeking realtor referrals."

Travis Grubbs
Statesboro, Georgia
Registered CABO Inspector, #2723
Certified, Exterior Design Institute, #GA-16
Licensed Home Inspector, South Carolina, #418
All American Home Inspections, Inc.

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Dear Mr. Robitaille,

The first couple of months that I was in business I walked into many a Realtor office and gave presentations about my service. It didn't take long for me to realize this was not the way I wanted to generate business. I wrote to you for advice and have followed much of your marketing ideas. My business has picked up, about 60% of it is now from client referrals, while most of the rest is from mortgage companies. I would like to share a portion of a letter I received today that makes me believe that "independent" is the way to be:

"Dear Mr. Larson, We were very reassured throughout the inspection process that "WE" were the clients, not the other parties involved with the sale of the house. This was a great relief and reassurance. We would be happy to recommend your services to anyone."

I appreciate all that you have done and attempt to do for the home inspection business.

Best Wishes,
Jon L. Larson
Precision Property Inspection Service
Ephrain, Utah.

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"Hi, Excellent, excellent web page. I checked it out after reading your post on the ASHI site. I share the same philosophies on client dedication and integrity. I won't do more than two inspections per day. I do every one like its my first in regards to carefulness, thoroughness etc., and I am dedicated to constant improvement technically and in the way of administration and organization. Here in NJ real estate agencies allow inspector brochures to be displayed in the office. This I do to get client exposure, but I have no regular real estate agent or agency relationships and don't solicit business from them.

Chris Mennella
Mennella & Associates Home Inspections
South Amboy, New Jersey

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"Dennis,

Thanks for this opportunity to voice my opinion. Framingham Associates Incorporated has existed since 1977 for the purpose of providing service to our client, the home buyer. During the early years our inspections were called engineering inspections, then structural inspections, and now Home Inspections.

By nature, a new inspector solicits referrals from real estate sales people, the very people that need to "close the deal" to get paid. To obtain referrals, the new inspector must consider the sales person the primary client and as such must satisfy the sales person's need to get paid. This is accomplished by reinforcing the buying decision, not by inspecting for defects. The relationship that often results is very similar to a used car salesperson recommending a mechanic for the purpose of inspecting a used car for a purchaser, an obvious problem in the eyes of most people. The attempt by sales people to control the Home Inspection process has become more open. This control extends to other professionals such as attorneys, appraisers, lenders, etc..

The results of your legislative efforts are a huge step in the right direction. The home buyer must be allowed to freely select all professionals involved in the purchase process."

Tom Corrigan
Framingham Associates
Delmar, New York

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"Dennis, I would hope to have your permission to use part of the article about real estate referrals. I would like to set up something about this on our website. Realtors don't use me, only when their client calls us. I have a firm belief that we will provide our clients with and honest and thorough inspection, without making a report look better than the home we inspected. We provide our services to our client and will not look for repeat business from any realtor based on a poor performance provided to our clients."

Mark Pierce,
CCB #129266-OCHI #345
Starrtech Home Inspection Service
Portland, Oregon

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"I am writting to you concerning the article you wrote in the June 1995 issue of the ASHI Reporter. For the first time I saw a point of view much like mine, that was from an ASHI member. I have always been reluctant networking and marketing to Realtors and I agree with you 110%. I am proud of the inspection which I provide and perform for my clients. I believe every home inspection should be performed for the client and the client only. I report ALL defects and deficencies and allow my clients to determine whether or not those items are considered major or minor."

John E Ferrero
Home-spec Inc.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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"Dennis,

Realtors have their job to do and I have mine, which just happens to be on the other side of the coin. I always make it a point to be friendly with everyone on the job, and explain to them that I do need to speak to my client in some sort of privacy. I understand why they (Realtors) seldom tell a home buyer to call me for an inspection. About the only time an agent calls me for an inspection is when they or a close family member is purchasing a home, the only exception to this would be a few buyers agents, but they are very few and far between and don't seem to last very long. As far as agent/inspector relationships go: It doesn't mean you can't be friendly and say "Hi" to them, but it does mean that there can be absolutely no consideration given or exchanged with anyone on the job except the client."

Wayne Genser
Fore Most Home Inspections
Houston, Texas

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"Dear Mr. Robitaille, I was very pleased to encounter your site and to know that others believe that inspectors must be independent from agents and that buyers should be wary of referrals of inspectors from real estate agents. At the moment, I'm trying to get the New Brunswick government TO PROHIBIT REFERRALS TO INSPECTORS BY RE AGENTS ie: to change the REAL ESTATE AGENTS ACT. This ACT DOES NOTHING TO PROTECT THE CONSUMER. My web site is also a pro consumer site and I touch on many of the issues that you do."

Sincerely,
Chuk Mac Donald
Status Inspection & Design
New Brunswick, Canada