I have to meet a home inspector a few towns away on a Sunday to let him into a house. Why wouldn't a professional simply become an affiliate with the local MLS and get a supra/key and let themselves into the house. If you want to ride the train, then pay the freight. Am I being too difficult?

Why would it be OK for anyone to go into a listed home without an agent? I could very easily see some serious liabilty issues for an agent that allows this to happen.

All that agent needs is even the suggestion by the homeowner that somesomething was stolen, broken, or messed up, & they'll being seeing how good an E&O policy they've got.

Katie- Do you allow appraisers to let themselves in alone? Of course...so let's get real. Are you suggesting home inspectors are a different type of people?

That phrase "if you want to ride the train" would apply more to the agent than to the inspector...you are in charge of the buyer's or sellers transaction from start to finish. It's your responsibility to give everyone involved in the transaction, access to the property including inspectors, appraisers and any contractors that need to work on the home or give estimates. That is why you make a minimum of 10 times the fee the home inspector does. Time to earn that paycheck.

If I never heard of the appraiser, absolutely I'm there. And I'll tell you why. More and more lately, appraisers around here are simply doing drive-bys, not a full-blown interior inspection, and as I do a good deal of REO's, I'm getting messed over on the listing price.

HI's are not a different type of people. But, like any industry, you just don't know. Currently there's no licensing law for HI's in Ohio. Not just for liabilty issues, I've never missed an inspection. I want to know ASAP if there's any issues, and quite honestly, I want to make certain that my buyers are getting a professional, fair, & accurate inspection.

Katie- Home inspectors in both Illinois and Indiana are required to be licensed just as appraisers and agents. If they were not, I would have to share your stance. Appraisers and home inspectors earn close to the same for each report around here. I have never seen an appraiser not have a supra since obtaining my license in 1997.
I see that customs vary around the country. In this area, this would be like a buyers agent asking the listing agent to met, open, wait and lock up while I show the home. Fat Chance.

Kevin- Do you have a supra?

This one's going to change in the next few years, but our appraisers aren't required to be licensed, either.

If things here were the way they are in your area, I could see not being there, definately, unless someone had an express wish for me to attend.

I've been a member of the San Diego Association of Realtors for five years now. They do not allow anyone other than Realtors and attorneys to have access to Supra keys, and only Realtors and attorneys can join the local MLS.

I would love to ride the train since my father was Vice-President of Missouri Pacific, but the train don't stop at my station in this case.

Home Inspectors and Appraisers can join our local association as Affiliate members and have Supra Key access. Makes life easier for all involved.

never mind.

Access to the keys is regulated by each separate association. The county I live in does not allow it. I have no idea about the other 10 counties I serve. Becoming a member to all of them could get expensive at $400 each per year.

Same here. I think if they want business from our clients, they should join and pay the fee. It DOES make life easier. My list of appraisers and inspectors that I give our includes only members. I would recommend to any inspector to join if they want business.

Using that analogy, though, no home inspector should do business with you unless you join a home inspector trade association. Tit for tat?

Who has more money to join all these associations, a Realtor making 3% commission on a $500,000 house, or a home inspector making $299 on a $500,000 house?

There are many good reasons to join the local realtor's association. Unless I served only a small area, getting on your limited list is not one of them. And even then, it would be low on the list. I'm not fond of dealing with people that have narrow minds. Access to keys could be high on the list if it was an available benefit but it is not.

Because there are so many "local" associations in the area that I serve, I would have to guaranteed to be at the top of everyone's list just so I could get enough business to pay all of the fees.

Most people I know are capable of writing a check and joining something. That does not make them a good inspector, or an inspector at all.

Broaden your horizons. There is a great big beautiful world out there. You might find find people that can better serve your clients than those on your "list".

And, if I were a client, paying 3% on $500,000 for services, I would be pretty upset if I heard an agent complain about having to drive to the property.