Ethical?

Gary,  Ethics, principle or morals... I don't want to split hairs over word definitions.  The reason my friend wouldn't perform the inspections for the agents and brokers that won't refer him, is not because they don't support him.  It is because in their opinion, he finds to much!  He is a very detailed inspector with a lot of experience and training.  They want that for themselves, but do not want that for their clients, and so, refer their clients to another less, shall we say weaker inspector.  The essence of the post and the real questions is; Why don't the real estate agents want the BEST INSPECTOR for their clients when they obviously want the best inspector for their own interests. 

Charles,  I suppose that's the way I have always looked at it also.  As you could see from the post; I did them both shaking my head in wonder all the way.

I guess, in reality, I'm trying to figure out a way to get into the head of the real estate agents and brokers that do this sort of thing.  How do they not see it as a moral or ethical issue?  Going back to Gary's line of thought at the top, whatever happened to; Preferring others above yourself?

I can certainly see the reasoning behind my frinds decision though, and may incorporate it in the future.  I just haven't decided yet.

Charles, I'm not sure I follow.  Are you saying that when you did better work for clients than you would for yourself, as a builder, it was actual physical work you were doing; and with agents and brokers, since it is a service that they are offering, its psychological?  Please explain!

Jim,

I would say that your "trust" is very misplaced.  I have been a full time home inspector for over 16 years and I have worked in two different states.  I have had the opportunity to inspect houses on a good number of occasions that had been previously inspected by other inspectors.  It has nothing to do with test scores.  It has to do with personality, competency, knowledge and experience.  

Some inspectors do a walk-by and check a box.  Other inspectors do a thorough and detailed inspection.  I have found that in every area that I have worked, there is actually a fairly wide range of professionalism and detail in what "Home Inspectors" offer.  In any given local area there are going to be agents and brokers that will refer the former to their clients and call the latter for their own inspection.  That's the point of the post!

If you are the "BEST INSPECTOR" in your area, and certain agents and brokers never refer you to their clients, why would you provide them with your "superior service" when they aren't willing to offer that service to the people they are supposed to be representing?  That is the ethical point that my friend was trying to communicate.

Charles, No, as far as I can tell, we are not saying the same thing.

I understand that there are plenty of good inspectors in any given location.  And agents will or will not refer them for a number of different reasons, as you have indicated.  That is of course, OK.

Lots of agents refer what are considered, "the better inspectors" in an area to their clients, some have a list that include the good the bad and the ugly, and they let their clients do the research and pick who they want.  This also is, OK and not a problem.

There are also some very POOR inspectors (in my opinion) in each of the locations where I have worked.  And it is the agents that exclusively refer these to their clients and then call one of the others for their own intrerests that are the point of the post.  If you and Jim think that all inspectors are GOOD inspectors, then I can see why the post could be confusing.

Charles, I completely agree with you on that point.  Sooner or later, You reap what you sow.  Or, What goes around comes around.

Jim, I guess I'm not one of those, Can't we all just get along, kind of people.  What terms do you feel would be more appropriate?  I think that most home inspectors feel the same as I do.  We are not interested in being dumped in the same "Home Inspector Blob" as a guy who performs his home inspections with his eyes half closed and provides his clients with about half of the information that should legitimately be generated from a professional home inspection.  What does a state requiring a license have to do with it?  As Charles stated very clearly (and correctly) previously, We have new inspectors that are better than some who have been around for 20 years.  And some new inspectors that have just gone through their licensing required education class and obtained their state license that will be sued out of business in their first year because of their incompetence or work ethic.  Perhaps I am just not understanding what you are trying to say, if that is the case, please forgive me.  What I am trying to communicate to you is that; All Home Inspectors Are NOT Equal!!!  And... In my experience as a home inspector and my friends experience as a home inspector, there are going to be real estate agents that will consistently and exclusively recommend the (as Charles so eloquently put it) "bottom feeders" to their clients, but will call the (one of the) "Best Inspectors" if they are purchasing personally.  It has nothing to do with "taste"or "preference" or "best fit", it has to do with being unethical and not wanting their client to get the same standard of service that they want for themselves.    

Celeste, Thank you for the comment.  Communication with the client is certainly very important in the home inspection process.