Every home inspector comes into the inspection business with a different set of skills, and no inspector is an expert in every discipline that’s required for a truly comprehensive home inspection.
As a result, it’s common for inspectors to compensate for areas of lesser knowledge by indicating, “Recommend further evaluation by a licensed contractor.” But if all you do is refer to others, it’s easy for some customers to wonder, “What am I paying YOU for?!? I could have called in a contractor myself!”
Some inspectors have mitigated this problem by forming strategic alliances with other home inspectors who have different areas of specialty and experience. For example, if an inspector has extensive experience as an electrician, but only a basic knowledge of plumbing, he/she could form an informal alliance with an inspector who is strong in plumbing but less experienced in electrical.
If you’re concerned about collaborating with competitors, consider that the advent of video technology makes it feasible to align with one or more inspectors outside your coverage area, thus avoiding competitive issues.
The industry trade organizations can help you locate potential collaborators anywhere in the U.S. Your network of specialists can enable you to deliver better-informed, more comprehensive inspection reports, along with a superior customer experience.
Comment below with any experiences you’ve had with establishing a mutually-beneficial network of inspectors.