How to pick a good home inspector

Tom Corbett of Tomacor talks about how to go about picking a good home inspector - and how to avoid a bad one.

Tip: avoid the ones your real estate agent recommends.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Chicago
• Ilinois
• home
• inspector
• real
• estate
• YoChicago

[trickdaddyho]

I understand why you wouldn't get any request from agents to do an inspection, your boring and negative and would not stand out to them. A good inspetion requires personality and knowledge. Can you show us where in the standards that a quote is recommended as part of a home inspection,didn't think so.

[YoChicago1]

Beyond being unable to read and understand that this account doesn't belong to the home inspector you want to taunt, what is your problem?

Guys like Corbett lend credibility to the home inspection business. You should be happy he's in the business instead of resenting and envying his success.

[trickdaddyho]

A realtor has the knowledge of who is a good inspector and who is not and are better able to select a good one. And never are we going to give a quote for any service, that is up to the contrator who is in the business of the repairs requested. We just recommend a licensed contrator further inspect and servie as needed. Just imagine if you under quoted a service and the buyer now wants you to pay the difference. This guy is a moron.

[YoChicago1]

That's pretty funny - people should look at your profile and ask who the moron is.

Don't know what kind of business you expect to get from your profile name and the videos you link, but it has nothing to do with home inspections or real estate.

[trickdaddyho]

I dont need more business, my realtors keep me very busy.

[YoChicago1]

I feel sorry for your Realtors' clients, and for yours. You've come here and trashed someone you don't know, who I know to be a highly competent and ethical individual. No professional would do anything like that. People can learn everything they need to know about you from your screen name and from your video Favorites.

[duker64]

Ridiculous video

Secondly, lots of ASHI members get referrals from realtors...

Also - this video assumes realtors are not professional - that all reatlors would lie, cheat, and steal to get a deal done - that is not the case.

Most inspectors don't quote prices - they would give a range of costs, but not a price quote. Inspectors can't quote prices due to a lack of knowledge of labor costs.

[jfaske]

Frankly, I have to disagree with you on the referrals. I've had numerous Realtors that have referred their clients to me and it turned out that the client decided against the house based upon the results of the inspection. The Realtor felt their client was completely satisfied with the referred inspection, therefore, creating an even stronger relationship between client and Realtor.

[SantosVince]

Some good points here but keep in mind ASHI has done more than any other org. in marketing directly to Real Estate Agents. I think realistically if you call ten ASHI inspectors all but one or two will claim independence from marketing to Realtors. A better guide would be to ask about years in business, full time or part time, training, number of inspections performed and sample report/s. The general public needs to do their homework when hiring an inspector.

[NakedSuit]

ASHI is great, your idea about 5 to 6 years ago yellow pages is pure garbage as that doesn't show anything. Additionally 50% contractors are out of business in 3 to 5 years. The most important thing is can you represent in court as an expert witness adequately and do you have adequate E&O insurance no one can be perfect every time. I would say you do not represent that expert, being glib is not someone I would ever trust. Here is a thought, go with Home Depot and get warranties. Then inspect.

[bronzevilleblogdtcom]

I love Tom. I have used him for my clients after buying two dogs from realtors who swore up and down that the developers were quality . Of course later I found out a year after buying a condo from Metro Ho that the condo did NOT have a new roof as the realtor claimed...and the original old one was up there. Why didn't I know about this? Because the shitty inspector who did the inspection didn't give a shit about the roof....and worked with the realtor ; ) end of story

[galwaybaylad]

Big Ego...The problem is every buyer believes everything comes out of his mouth...He loves killing deals because buyers will use him again so its good for repeat business. He accuses Realtors or coloborating with home inspectors which is not true. He sounds like the Hero...the Knight in shining Armor and is bashful and makes assumptions of people in other professions. He will try to f*ck the seller over by overestimating repair costs . Its not about his client..the guy is on a power trip

[rfitzwa]

As a home inspector, I like this guys approach. Realtors rotate in and out every 3-5 yrs. Build your inspection business one at a time and don't book more than 2 a day. Referrals will carry you from your clients. Don't save $25 on your inspection and let it cost you in the end.