I don't see anything wrong with your agent asking for the name of your inspector. Why do you think it's a problem? Your agent, afterall, is working for you, right?

If it's the seller's agent asking...I still don't see anything wrong. I would want to know who I was allowing access to the property. How else would I know who might be ringing the doorbell?

It's fine to have your son at the inspection but, IMO, you should also be there. You are the one purchasing the house & the one who will have to deal with any problems. Also, your son may, or may not, ask the same questions as you would.

/t

I don't see how your agent (or the seller's agent for that matter) asking for the name and phone number of the inspector you hired being the slightest bit unethical. If your agent is going to let the inspector in don't they have to have some kind of communication to make that happen?

Hopefully you and your agent are on the same team. Why would you NOT want to let your agent know who your inspector was? Our office requires a copy of the home inspectors license to be kept on file at our office. This is mostly to check to see if they are indeed licensed since licensing is new in my area and covers our liability in case the buyer hired someone who isnt licensed.

If issues come up on the home inspection, don't you want your agent talking to the home inspector first hand so she can negotiate on your behalf with the sellers agent? Home inspectors in my area, ask the buyers right at the inspection for permission to send the report to the agent for this purpose.

In my area, the home inspector can't go on the home inspection without the agent being present although I know in some areas, the home inspector goes by himself, not even the buyer is permitted to go.

If your son knows what to look for, why have the home inspection at all? The reason for a home inspection is not just to find issues with the house, its so the home inspector can educate you alittle bit on each system of the house. Your son being there doesnt do you any good.

linda117: Our office requires a copy of the home inspectors license to be kept on file at our office. This is mostly to check to see if they are indeed licensed since licensing is new in my area and covers our liability in case the buyer hired someone who isnt licensed.

What if the inspector refuses to provide that information? The buyer is certainly entitled to see the inspector's license, but why are you? Is the law written to require the home inspector must provide a realtor (or broker) with a copy of their license? I'm not sure how your agency would be responsible as the inspector has E&O insurance. Your office might require the agent to be there with the inspector, but does the law require it?

If your son knows what to look for, why have the home inspection at all?

I was under the assumption, unless your a licensed home inspector, that a buyer would have no legs to stand on if defects were found?

So your saying an average buyer can do the inspection process themselves, write up a report including what he feels is a major defect, and submit it to seller for fixing or reimbursement? That would allow a buyer to break purchase agreements etc.... please clarify.

So your saying an average buyer can do the inspection process themselves, write up a report including what he feels is a major defect, and submit it to seller for fixing or reimbursement? That would allow a buyer to break purchase agreements etc.... please clarify.

Umm, yeah. IF that is a contingency in your contract. You could have the sale contingent upon a satisfactory personal inspection of the property. If the inspection is not to your satisfaction you could break the agreement.

What if the inspector refuses to provide that information? The buyer is certainly entitled to see the inspector's license, but why are you? Is the law written to require the home inspector must provide a realtor (or broker) with a copy of their license? I'm not sure how your agency would be responsible as the inspector has E&O insurance.

Xamsx, a home inspector certainly could refuse to fax a copy of his license, but why would he? Wouldnt it put up a red flag if your inspector didnt want to show his license? Buyers generally don't see the inspectors license, no one asks for it, in fact you don't get to meet them until you get to the house. How do you even know if he's licensed? My broker made it office policy for protection of the buyer and the sellers. So far not one has ever refused. If they did refuse, we would make a notation on the file and that would be the end of it. The buyer is free to use whomever they want.

Your office might require the agent to be there with the inspector, but does the law require it?

This is not an office policy. Home inspectors have no access to get into someones house. Their access is thru the realtor.

What seems to be getting lost here is that the agent and the buyer are supposed to be on the same side. If a buyer treated me like they didnt trust me, didnt want to share information, didnt want to take my referrals because they thought I would "taint" the inspection, I wouldnt work with the buyer.

I was under the assumption, unless your a licensed home inspector, that a buyer would have no legs to stand on if defects were found?

So your saying an average buyer can do the inspection process themselves, write up a report including what he feels is a major defect, and submit it to seller for fixing or reimbursement? That would allow a buyer to break purchase agreements etc.... please clarify.

Grandmum you need to check what is customary in your area. In NY, you are not required to have a home inspection. Sellers are not required to fix anything. Its negotiated, if they choose not to fix it, the buyer can choose not to buy the house. There is no contract until after the inspection is done so a buyer can back out at any time. In other areas, your home inspection is done after the contract phase and a major defect is your only way out. If this is how its done in your area than you probably wouldnt have a leg to stand on if your son did the inspection. What are his credentials? Simply saying he knows construction wouldnt convince most sellers to make repairs based on his say so.

Although there is nothing inherently wrong with the RE wanting the HI name and phone number, IMO, they should explain why it is needed. RegardlessÂ..it is your choice as to whether or not you wish to provide that infoÂunless doing so is required either by law in your state, or by the language contained in your purchase contract.

In any state where the HI profession is regulated, invariably a home inspection for the purposes of a RE transaction are not valid unless conducted by a licensed individual.

In addition, in some states such as NJ, a REA or RE broker is not considered to be the legal representative of the buyer in terms of the home inspection; only an attorney licensed to practice in NJ is the legal rep.......as such, there is no reason for the REA to have the HI report...as they can't negotiate with the seller on the buyers behalf in terms of issues pertaining to the inspection.

That said, even if the REA can do so in your state, it is unwise to allow anyone but a licensed RE attorney to do so...as their documented knowledge of RE law is far vaster, and as such they are far better positioned to protect your interests.

Last but not least, just as a point of reference, allowing the HI to give the REA the report can work against your interests...as the info may get to the seller before you have a chance to decide what course of action you prefer. The seller can them elect to make repairs that may not be quality repairs...negating your option to request a price reduction instead in order for you to have the work done by contractors of your choice and thereby having the best chance to assure repairs are made to your standards.

As such, many of the wiser HIÂs have stopped this practiceÂas it is frowned upon by the E&O insurersÂand in this day and age of email, if the buyer wants the REA to have the report, they can just forward it on to them as soon as they receive it....Âno need for the HI to do so whatsoever.

Last but not least, you really should be at the inspection, as this is the best way to understand the deficiencies foundÂ...if any.

"I arranged for inspection and asked my agent to let us into property. She asked for his name and number... shouldnt this be of no concern to agent as long as I have a licensed and insured inspector?"

It sounds like you don't trust your own agent. Either get a new agent or start trusting the one you've got.

You've asked her to meet a stranger at a property. Why is it odd that she would want his name and number? Why would it be unethical? Maybe she just wants to confirm the time with him. Maybe for safety reasons she wants to know who she is letting into someone's home. Why are his name and number classified information?

Nothing unusual about her request, why would you question that ?

how would she know you have a licensed inspector, because you said so ?

>>It sounds like you don't trust your own agent. Either get a new agent or start trusting the one you've got. >>
Having recently sold and bought homes with different agents (in which things pretty much went all right) I would definitely advise a person not to put too much trust in any agent.
Their advice to me in both cases was to do anything that would result in the transaction closing. This would be, of course in the best interest of the agent, but may or may not be in the best interest of the buyer or seller.
I did use the inspector recommended by my agent, and I've always had second thoughts that perhaps I received information that would be in my agent's best interest. I guess time will tell.
Good luck
Susan

"...how would she know you have a licensed inspector, because you said so ?"

Actually, the ONLY way for the REA to know for sure that the OP's HI who will inspect the home is licensed, is to ask the OP for a copy of the license...as that is the only way for the REA to verify that the HI who arrives is indeed the one with a license....and not one of the HI's employees...

As the buyer hired the HI on their own...and the HI is not a referral from the REA, the REA should have asked the buyer to obtain the info she needed, as opposed to attempting to speak to the HI on her own...as this is what raised a red flag in the OP's mind...and understandably so....as it seems the REA gave no explanation for needing the name & numberÂ

Perhaps the OP will post back and provide more info...