Who pays for the home inspection, and should I use the inspector my agent recommends?

The buyer typically pays for their own home inspection, since it is a service they hire to protect their own interests in the purchase, not a cost split with the seller. A buyer is free to choose their own inspector rather than default to whoever their agent recommends, and comparing a couple of options is a reasonable step before hiring one. An agent's recommendation can still be a useful starting point if the agent has seen that inspector's reports be thorough in the past. Brian Beatty can refer a buyer to inspectors he trusts while leaving the final choice to the buyer.