Real Estate agents are typical sources of referral when the home buyer is looking for an inspector. While there are many agents who will put their clients ahead of their own pocketbook, even when the competition is fierce, it is prudent to keep a simple fact in mind: The inspector gets paid regardless of whether the home buyer buys the house or not. The agent gets paid only when the house is sold.

Associations between inspectors and agents are not improper. They are actually necessary. They and other professionals involved in the home buying process will be most successful if they collectively understand each other's profession and work together to provide for a successful and enjoyable home buying experience by the client. What goes wrong sometimes is that ethical borders are not sufficiently recognized and respected. An agent may enter into a simple 'understanding' with an inspector that says that the inspector can look forward to a steady stream of referrals for as long as that inspector does not include in a report any finding that may jeopardize the sale of the dwelling. The benefit to the agent is obvious. The short term benefit to the inspector is that his advertising budget consists of mere pocket change. Agents provide his work, the homebuyer gets horrendously scammed and the credibility of the home inspection industry takes a nose dive.

Wise Consumers will be cautious. Home buying is a lot more expensive than going to a Wal-Mart and more permanent too. Unlike Wal-Mart, you just can't bring it back to the store. Once you own a house, you own it's problems.