How does an independent inspector actually make money?
If I don't sell roofs, what's my angle? Straight answer: homeowners pay me directly for reports. That's it. No kickbacks. No referral fees. No commission on any work anyone does after I leave. Here's the whole picture.
Four revenue lines. All from homeowners or their lawyers.
- Paid inspection fees ($149–$1,500)
Homeowners pay me directly for tiered written reports. Priced by size, roof type, and complexity — flat rates published on /pricing.
- Free walk-arounds ($0)
Verbal opinion at your house, photos on request. My cost is my time — I offer it because a 20-minute honest read prevents a lot of bad decisions.
- Expert/litigation reports (hourly)
For attorneys, adjusters, and homeowners in dispute. Deposition-ready documentation billed at published rates.
- Annual maintenance plans
Optional subscription for repeat inspections and documentation continuity. Cancel any time.
If any of these were on the table, I'd have an angle. They aren't.
- Hide any contractor referral fee
If a matched bench contractor pays a flat referral fee, it's disclosed to you in writing before you pick a contractor. The fee is fixed — it doesn't scale with scope or price, so it can't influence which shop I recommend. See /compensation-disclosure for the full policy.
- Take a percentage of your roof job
I don't mark up materials. I don't get a % of the repair or replacement price. Whether your roof gets fixed for $800 or $80,000, my income from your inspection is the same.
- Sell roofing services
I don't install, tear off, patch, coat, or supply materials. That's the whole point — I have no bag to carry.
- Get paid by insurance carriers
I document what I see; the carrier pays the claim. I've never received a dollar from any insurance company for any inspection, and I don't take Assignment-of-Benefits contracts.
- Sell your data
Your contact info, photos, and report content are yours. I don't sell leads to contractors, roofers, or marketing lists.
A contractor's inspection is a sales call
Every roofing company in NM offers a 'free inspection.' They can afford to because the inspection is a lead-generation tool for a $15,000–$60,000 sale. Their inspector is compensated — directly or indirectly — on jobs closed. That's not a scandal; it's the business model. It just means their read on your roof isn't neutral. Mine is. That's the whole difference.
The follow-up questions people ask
Because homeowners ask me who to call. I keep a short list of vetted NM roofers I've watched over years. I make zero dollars when you hire any of them. The list exists as a service to clients, not a revenue stream.
No. Pay-to-play would defeat the purpose. Contractors earn the list by consistent, documented quality work — and get removed for one bad job or one lie.
I don't and won't. Wearing both hats — inspector and installer — is the exact conflict of interest I built this business to avoid. I'll help you pick a bidder and review their scope.
Book the free walk-around. I'll tell you what I see verbally, hand you notes and photos, and you can decide whether a written report is worth it. No obligation, no upsell script.