An Ugly Side of Home Inspection

True story.

While conducting a home inspection on a particularly large property in Kalamazoo County, a local real estate agent decided to engage in some small talk. About home inspectors. It turns out that this particular real estate agent lives in the same neighborhood as a local home inspector. His opening comment was that this particular home inspector living nearby "likes to engage in politics."

"Politics?" I asked. Yes, politics, apparently. Or at the least, unethical business practices.

As the story was related, the neighborhood home inspector had a friend--who happened to be another home inspector--who wanted to purchase a house. The house was apparently too costly, so the home inspectors entered into an unwritten agreement that the neighborhood home inspector would inspect the house for the other inspector, documenting problems and deficiencies that did not exist, and exaggerating the problems that actually did exist. Thus the home inspector wanting to buy the house in question would be able to ask for reductions in the sale price. It was not revealed whether or not the property actually sold.

The truthfulness of this story could not be verified, but it would seem that this particular real estate agent had little or nothing to gain by relating this story to me. This story is not shared to point fingers at anyone. It is shared to illustrate yet another reason that home inspectors should be licensed in Michigan.

It is unknown whether the inspectors involved are members of any home inspection association, or whether any association they may subscribe to has any code of ethics, nor whether this particular real estate agent reported the inspectors involved to any association. Some might suggest that the real estate agent may have been sharing this story out of frustration that nothing could be done about the home inspectors in question, and that might be a valid point. Historically, home inspector associations have not made disciplinary records available to the public, so it is difficult to ascertain what associations do take action on complaints.

Though it is likely too late for the Michigan House to act, House Bill 4014 (2011) would license home inspectors in Michigan. Introduced by Democrat Richard LeBlanc, HB 4014 has been held captive by the House Regulatory Reform Committee (Hugh Crawford, Chair). A recent conversation with Representative Crawford's office will shed some light on some possible reasons why the committee chairman has neglected to bring this very important legislation to the committee's attention.

Professionalism

"Whether a person can be deemed a professional is determined by the degree to which he or she has internalized certain values pertinent to the profession. Although there is some disagreement, four areas appear to be important.

1. Expertise. The professional requires some expertise. This includes specialized knowledge and skills that can be obtained only through training (usually through academic study and experience).
2. Autonomy. The professional claims autonomy. Professionals reserve the right to decide how their function is to be performed and to be free from restrictions.
3. Commitment. Professionals feel a commitment to the discipline. They are more likely to identify with members of their profession in other organizations than with their own organization.
4. Code of ethics. Finally, there is a responsibility to society for the maintenance of professional standards of work. They adhere to professional self-discipline and a code of ethics."
   

Brown & Harvey, An Experiential Approach to Organization Development, 7th Ed.