Does this sound fishy?

[Jacky Johnson]

I'm interested in a listed property by an agent. The property has been listed for 2 days and I wanted to hire a home inspector for the property because the home, although maybe a good deal, is selling about 33% below the market rate (an elder couple have been living in there before, but they passed away). When I called the listing agent to see if I can hire a home inspector and do an inspection for the property, the agent refused saying there has been many requests for a home inspection and a home inspection has already been done. But my question is that the property has been listed for only 2 days and there are so many requests already? Next I request the listing agent for a home inspection report and the listing agent said she can only email me the report if I were working with an agent, and won't directly send it to me. Does all this sound fishy?

[Michael Fraulo]

Quote from @Jacky Johnson:

Quote from @Michael Fraulo:

Yeah, that does sound a bit off. A listing agent refusing an inspection or withholding the report unless you have an agent is unusual, especially after just 2 days on market. It could be competitive pressure, or it could be the agent trying to control the process. If you're serious about the property, consider getting your own agent to help navigate it and protect your interests. Good luck. 

Yes the listing agent said a home inspection by the buyer is permissible only if the buyer's offer is accepted, I was like what?

You could just make an offer. Get the inspection report or do your own and then re-negotiate it if you don't feel comfortable based on the results. You shouldn't have any hard money on the line at that point, it would still be early in the process. Just make your offer subject to inspection report, mortgage, and whatever other contingencies you may have.