It always seems to come down to dollars and cents. In real estate, there’s a bit of a trend to pluck agents from the home inspection process. It’s viewed as a “waste of time” when agents could be productive in different ways. That’s unfortunate for home buyers, who have too few advocates in the process as it is.
Without an agent at their side, your home inspection customers may be a little more vulnerable than before. They might not attend the inspection at all. But that also opens up a new opportunity for you to serve the community.
Real Estate Brokers Want Agents More Focused on Money-Producing Tasks
One of the key drivers behind fewer buyer agents attending the inspection is the attitude of the broker. According to Anthony Askowitz at Inman, there’s a growing trend away from being there for the buyer. Instead, brokers want agents busy with tasks directly related to the bottom line.
It’s the corporate way. Customer service is sometimes sacrificed in the name of profits. But is that really the best approach for the long run? Many buyer agents think not.
Sellers Have Advocates Coming out of the Woodwork
In another Inman article, by Andrew Wetzel, the author asserts that the buyer’s agent should always attend the inspection as it’s part of customer service. Commenters on that article, most of them agents, are split on their opinions about attending or not.
Some seller agents even stated their belief that they have a right to access and review the inspection report and discuss it with their client. That’s disconcerting, as the buyer paid for it. Once again, advocates emerge for sellers while buyers have fewer people on their side.
Even if the agent doesn’t attend, the buyer can learn what they’re really buying by seeing systems and defects firsthand.
Certified Home Inspectors Have a New Customer Service Opportunity
If a home buyer’s agent does all of the paperwork but offers no support for their client in the home evaluation process, the only person left to help them is you. That’s not entirely a bad thing. Home inspectors are uniquely positioned to provide facts about the property, not shined up opinions that tug at emotions, which are a time-tested selling tool.
Remember, the buyer’s agent gets a share of the commission on a successful sale. But in your role, you can reinforce the buyer-centric value of home inspections and boost the reputation of the home inspection industry in the process.
Certified home inspectors always work for the customer who pays for the inspection. In most cases, that’s the buyer. The trend away from buyer agents attending inspections creates a new opportunity for you.
Build a reputation as an industry thought leader. Get active in social media. Write regular blog posts that inform the public about home defects, which ones they should be afraid of, which ones aren’t such a big deal and the costs involved with repairs and replacement of defective systems. Educate the public and you’ll build a reputation as a buyer advocate. They’re the ones you want to attract in the first place, so it’s both helpful for them and good business for you.
Part of providing a great home inspection service is great reporting software. With the Report Form Pro app, you get a system that’s easy to use, easy to finalize and easy to send to the customer on the spot. Download the home inspection app for Android today or get it for your iPhone or iPad at the App Store.