e090217 Can an inspector pay a realty agent for a Web site link?

Identifier: e090217

Date: 02/17/2009

Question

Is there an ethics violation to pay a real estateagent a monthly fee for a link from his or her Web site to a specific homeinspection Web site?

Response

There are numerous opportunitiesfor home inspectors to pay for Web site links on consumer search sites andsearch engines. Paying to place Web links on Web sites where prospectivehomebuyers are likely to browse is a business decision that does not on itsface constitute any violation of the Code of Ethics. Paying for the Web linkwould only become a violation of the Code of Ethics if the payment is forreferrals from the agent.

Reference:

RFI e070320