Just like we are required by office policy (and I believe most companies here) to have a seller sign up for or waive the home warranty insurance, a seller pre-listing inspection should be discussed at time of listing.
How often do we hear buyers complain about agents being in kahoots with inspectors?
A pre-listing inspection paid for by the seller might make the inspection process less painful for all concerned. The buyer should still hire their own inspector, but problems should be kept to a minimum. In case of a dispute between inspectors findings, a specialist can resolve any concerns.

I have to say "kudos" to pikes peak! This is exactly what HomeVendorsPLUS is all about. We offer the ability for the Seller to take advantage of pre-listing inspections by marketing the fact to prospective buyers. Our site includes all who are qualified (albeit we just launched the site, however, those who have heard have joined). We are not a preferred list, no one can BUY their way in, its absolutely FREE to the professionals in the industry. For that reason, even the General Counsel for TREC in the State of Texas has given a verbal blessing to our program.

What a great benefit to a seller to market their home as professionally reviewed! What buyer wouldn't look at your home 1st! I would.

Sellers can be aware of what is expected in the transaction as far as the inspection is concerned, have an opportunity to address issues or consider negotiations before they have a contract signed. That alone will take the heat off the entire transaction.

Good Common Sense. Don't wait until you have a Buyer to address what issues will and can arise.
Everyone should have a HomeVendorsPLUS "Certified Home" to put their best foot forward to their prospective buyers. Sellers are Buyers Too !

I like what you're doing, but I'm not following your logic there.

What's the difference between FREE (theoretically meaning available to everyone, qualified or not) and BUY (theoretically meaning available to everyone, qualified or not, but with more money)?

Russel,
I guess the point I was trying to make was that the professionals have to be qualified to be members. We are not a service that someone can just pay fees to be a part of. Everyone who is qualified is welcome to promote their services on the HomeVendorsPLUS website. We are not a preferred list in any way. We are all about offering the Consumer convenience and selection and empowering them to be involved in their decision making process.

Since we are independantly owned and operated and our members are licensed qualified professionals from a variety of National Organizations and industries, we can offer the Consumer the most diverse assortment of professionals available on the internet today, give them assurance that they are working with qualified professionals, give them the opportunity to take advantage of marketing the fact that they have a "Certified Home", and save them a little money as well.

So how do you qualify those you choose to be members?

It looked like I could just go to your site and sign up. Does having a computer, Internet access, an ability to navigate the web, and/or being a moderator at this site qualify me as a good home inspector?

No, all of those things don't qualify you. When a professional signs up they must provide Licensing Information with # for verification along with Membership # of their membership in a National Organization to be verified. I for one know of no other service which verifies even that. I guess someone could argue that those requirements do not make a GOOD home inspector! However, they do assure that the professional has taken steps to be trained and is continuing to receive information in regard to their profession.

By the way, we don't require that you have a website or that you can navigate the web. We have several members who have nothing more than an e-mail address and if they didn't have e-mail I'm sure I could come up with a means for them to receive orders from our site and market their services if they are qualified.

FYI, We offer a webpage so that members without a website can inexpensively provide information about their services and company on our site. We also host the page for 1 year. For a minimal fee of $175. You just can't beat that.

If I am working with a new (to me) inspector and he/she does a hand written report (especially if on site). I will always discourage a buyer from using them.

I like that post, makes sense and shows the signs of a good real estate agent. It is very fitting with minimal exceptions:

1) Onsite reports. Not any more, sometimes you just need a little time to review what you have done after looking at the pictures. Makes you waste too much time on site. Makes you feel pressured. None of these are any good. A good inspector will go over the issues and answer questions as long as the buyer is present. I email my reports out the same night after I have a chance to look everything over.

2) Discounts. If we are asked to help someone out I usually will depending on the situation. Are you willing to cut your commission for them too? If I routinely work with an agent who refers me (among a list of other inspectors of course) then I am more likely to help out the client. If they are a first time home buyer purchasing an expensive house then no, I wont be discounting.