"Again thanks for a great job and we certainly appreciate your thoroughness. We were really pleased with how things went and are happy to pass your name on to our friends as they too purchase homes." Craig and Suzanne Sherter, Ridgefield CT.

Is Your CT Home Inspector Unbiased and Independent?

Many CT Home Inspectors advertise their services as independent. The good news is that this may be a trend that will protect the home buyer and make it easier to get an honest inspection. The bad news is that you can't trust everything you read.

One great reason to hire me? Because your Realtor probably recommended someone else! The majority of home inspectors in Connecticut and NY get their business as referrals from real estate agencies and Realtors. Some CT home inspectors tailor their business or reporting methods specifically to real estate agents and not to the home buyer, their true client. As far as I know there is no law prohibiting parties involved in a real estate transaction from steering you to a specific home inspector. Some tip offs - look for an inspectors affiliation to the local Board of Realtors, links to and from Realtors on an inspectors website, a button or page on an inspectors web site that says "Realtors click here", or even so-called "press releases" from real estate agencies touting the services of a specific inspector. 

This brings up an ethical question: who is the inspector really working for, the potential home buyer or the real estate agent who is responsible for referring home buyers to his business? Although most real estate agents and home inspectors perform their duties in an ethical manner, should any person with a monetary commission at stake control or influence which home inspectors a prospective home buyer can use? How can you know for sure that your agent is recommending someone who is going to give you a thorough and detailed inspection rather than a quick walk-through? It is up to you to be informed and choose wisely.

Subtle Ways to be Steered to a Bad Home Inspector

Any inspection firm can and will claim to be unbiased and independent from real estate agents if they think it will get your business. We are one of the few companies that prove it by belonging to the Independent Home Inspectors of North America. This means: 

• We have signed a contract and pledge to abide by a code of ethics promising you an honest, accurate, non-biased report.
• We have signed a contract and pledge not to pay or compensate Realtors for referrals to potential home buyers. This includes monetary compensation, trips, and what are also called "advertising fees" in the industry.
• We have signed a contract and pledge not to actively solicit real estate agencies for referrals.
• We have signed a contract not to produce any marketing material designed for Realtors rather than potential home buyers.
• We have signed a contract stating that we will not allow Realtors to influence or alter how we conduct inspections or convey our inspection findings.

Does this really matter? Not if you're buying a $39 blender. When you're buying a home that costs hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of dollars then it pays to be smart. When you hire Allied you'll get an objective report. That's our promise.

Click here to read why Realtors may not recommend the best home inspector.

Click here to read about another unhappy homebuyer who used the real estate agent "preferred" inspector.

Click here for more on agent referred home inspectors.

Click here to read an article about Realtors charging home inspectors for referrals.

CT HOME INSPECTOR