The more inspectors there are in the industry cozying up to real estate agents … the more the perception of bias will grow, IMO.
Me too. It’s funny how that works.
I hear ya and this is exactly how I feel.
But is this a good business practice? I mean, everyone in a “perfect” world would say what you say, and really it’s how it should be. But it’s not. I guarantee everyone who is doing 50+ inspections a month are going to say it’s not. I mean, we constantly are bombarded with information telling us to market/cater to REA’s in order to be “successful.” Heck, even NACHI’s own NG even harped about renting real estate space at a real estate office. Do you think guys doing these 50+ inspections a month don’t rely on/cater to REA’s for subsequent business? So is it really better to really “please” clients or REA’s…from a business standpoint? What’s more important…financially speaking?
IMO, in the long run, the client is the only one that matters.
Let’s be realistic here, when first starting out most Home inspectors rely REAs for business, so there there is a needle that needs to be threaded, to keep everyone happy.
IMO, as a Home Inspector matures in his business, most rely less & less on the REA for business and most could eventually really could care less what they think of him. 
Of course as with everything, your mileage may vary.
I have many honest & well meaning REAs in my area but at the same time I also have some that I prefer not to do business with at all.
With you on that Kevin. I have about 20 that I would refer to friends and the rest I don’t see very often.
We do around 70 a month. My goal is for my company to do hundreds a month in the future so why wouldn’t I market to a good source of new clients.
I doesn’t make sense not to market to any source that can provide a steady source of clients if growth is in your business plan.
It depends on what you mean by “please” I like to think that we please everyone involved with a report that accurately describes the condition of the property when inspected.
First, go to Troy’s website and look at his report. I don’t see a soft report.
If Troy was pandering to the Real Estate Agents, then I’m betting he would have already been questioned by the state licensing board or sued for collusion.
Troy probably sleeps fine at night and could teach some of us his best practices.
Partnerships between inspectors and real estate salesmen can be “justified” and “rationalized” as a necessary marketing arrangement among and between home inspectors and their vendors in a variety of self serving ways.
As Kevin said … and the media continues to report… it’s not what inspectors think that matters. It is the perception of the client, who would (in almost every case) prefer to think that his inspector is NOT one of his RE agent’s “team mates”, that matters most.
As for soft home inspection reports … never has there ever been a soft report writer who thought his reports were soft. Many soft report writers have gone as far as to say that soft reports do not exist.
Chris,
This is by no means about Troy. I always appreciate his input and knowledge. The whole premise is the Realtor and Home Inspector relationship and them controlling our profession. It’s not something I just pull out of the air to try and “stir someone’s pot.” I’ve experienced it and witness/ed it. I posted a link from a nationally syndicated writer who’s experienced it. Here’s a link http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ft1oLbdxx3s from perhaps the most widely know/familiar Realtor out there, Barbara Corcoran, from Shark Tank, saying the exact same thing. Why on earth would these people be saying the exact same thing that I am?
I understand Jose.
I had an email two weeks ago from a listing REA. Not too harsh, but basically she isn’t going to be handing my name out anytime soon. Who knows if she is slamming me behind my back.
I can’t control it. I just have to do the best I can and move on.
We reap what we sow.