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ACTIVE RAIN IS RAINING ON GOOGLE - I HOPE WE'RE RAINING ON SOME HOME INSPECTORS

By Lenn Harley

Real Estate Agent with Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate 303829;0225082372

June 26, 2007 10:45 AM

GOOGLE IS CRAWLING ACTIVE RAIN DAILY - NO DOUBT IN MY MIND.

I was searching in Google for Home Inspectors to update my list now that the licensing system is in place. Now that home inspectors are licensed in Maryland, even though they are not required to be licensed until January 1, 2008, I wouldn't want to RISK recommending someone who is not yet licensed.

I'm going through files to compile a list of home inspectors who HAVE obtained their license. It only makes sense. If the license is available and it will be required in 6 months, what's holding them back? This is not a critique of the home inspectors who have not yet obtained their license. They do have to complete and approved 48 hour course of instruction and pay a $400 license fee plus other requirements.

So, I'm searching Google for "maryland real estate inspections" and #3 in the SERP is my blog on Active Rain posted: Posted by Lenn Harley on 06/24/2007 12:21 PM.

Real Estate Blog - THE MARYLAND COMMISSION FOR REAL ESTATE ...

Meet the Maryland Real Estate Appraiser and Home Inspector Commission. By January, 2008, all home inspectors in Maryland will have to be licensed. ...
activerain.com/blogsview/130956/THE-MARYLAND-COMMISSION-FOR - 47k - Cached - Similar pages

That's fast enough for me.

Interesting follow up to the post on the 24th, I'm proofing my list of home inspectors to make sure everyone that I recommend is licensed. An interesting scenario has developed. If we call the inspector's office to ask if they are licensed, the answer is "YES". However, when we check the Commission web site, they are NOT by about 90%. Come on folks. You only have until January 1, 2008 to get licensed and the opportunities have been there for approved courses and licensing

I believe that real estate agents and brokers are put in a difficult position when a home inspector that they have highly recommended in the past has not obtained their license. What are we to do?? Shall we recommend an inspector that we know has NOT obtained their license? Shall we limit our home inspector recommendation to inspectors who have obtained their license?

What do my Active Rain friends recommend??? Fortunately, the home inspector I use is licensed. Thanks Vimal.

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Jay McGillicuddy

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Exeter, NH

Real Estate Broker

AR is great for google juice. Our state is in the process of licensing home inspectors. Glad to see you pop up so nicely on your search terms, got to love the Rain.

I wonder how blogs.realtor.com will do. Probably a lot AR's will post there too.

Jun 26, 2007 11:04 AM

Bryant Tutas

Tutas Towne Realty, Inc and Garden Views Realty, LLC - Winter Garden, FL

Selling Florida one home at a time

Lenn, No licensing required in Florida. Occupational license(if they bother) and a stack of biz cards and you can be a professional home inspector with the power to make or beak a deal. Something's wrong with this picture! To me this is a major issue. I hope Florida wakes up someday.

Jun 26, 2007 11:19 AM

Lenn Harley

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA

Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Jay. Thanks for commenting. I plan to open a Rearltor.com blog tomorrow if the system is easy enough. I'm short of time this week and that means short of patience. We'll see.

Bryant. I would think that home inspections in Florida would be important with the structural matters for code compliance for hurricane matters. At least you don't have basements. That's where most of our problems start.

Jun 26, 2007 11:46 AM

Bryant Tutas

Tutas Towne Realty, Inc and Garden Views Realty, LLC - Winter Garden, FL

Selling Florida one home at a time

Lenn, They are very important. It's unfortunate that anyone can do it.

Jun 26, 2007 12:12 PM

Monika McGillicuddy

Prudential Verani Realty - Atkinson, NH

NH Real Estate Broker

Jay is trying to set us up but so far no response yet from REALTOR.com site. Good job Lenn...working on feeding Google is important!

Jun 26, 2007 12:34 PM

Bob Carney

Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales - Mc Henry, MD

Licensed MD/PA Real Estate Agent

Lenn, Give Vimall the full benefit of Google. Let his full name and business come up with your post on Licensed Maryland Inspectors on page one... But wait, he may then get too busy for you.. ;)

Jun 26, 2007 12:43 PM

Eileen Landau

BAIRD & WARNER, NAPERVILLE - Naperville, IL

ABR, CRS, e-PRO

Lenn,

It's just possible that these inspectors have taken and passed the tests. And, the state, like all bureaucratic institutions can't handle the new workload. There's usually a lag.

And, yes, we should have licensed inspectors in all states.

Our problems are basements, radon and lots of broken window seals on older windows.

Jun 26, 2007 02:12 PM

Maggie Dokic /Indialantic | 321-252-8696

Magdalena Dokic - Indialantic, FL

Selling the beach in Florida's space coast

oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah <------Maggie's doing the cabbage patch dance. I love AR's Google juice!

Lenn, I'm with Broker Bryant. Any bozo can do an inspection in Florida. It shouldn't be that way.

Jun 26, 2007 02:26 PM

Lenn Harley

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA

Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Eileen

I gave the inspectors the benefit of the doubt. Once the license application is taken and approved by the state, it's just a couple of days before the listing is in the database on the web site.

I spoke with three inspectors and Margaret Woda spoke with the gentleman she uses and it was the "Ah um, actually, our field agents - I'm taking the course, etc., etc., etc.,"

Fact is, if a consumer asks them if they are licensed, they are gong to say "yes", when they actually are not. Others are. Why are they not??

Jun 26, 2007 10:35 PM

Christina Ethridge

The North Idaho Dream Team powered by SKE Realty Group - Coeur d'Alene, ID

Change your recommendations to ones who are licensed.

Jun 27, 2007 02:58 AM

Lenn Harley

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA

Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Christina.

That is the purpose of this post. At this point, since licensure is available, I would NOT recommend a home inspector who is NOT licensed.

Jun 27, 2007 03:23 AM

Dale Baker

Baker Energy Audits and Commercial Properties Inspections - Claremont, NH

New Hampshire Relocation Real Estate Information

Howdy Lenn

I am sorry but a license does not make the inspector be good at his or her job. Just like a license does not make all real estate people do a good job.

Have a good one y'all

Aug 20, 2007 11:05 AM

Lenn Harley

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA

Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Dale. Thanks for commenting. I appreciate it.

You are correct, of course. A license doesn't make an inspector good or a good inspector.

That said, if an inspector is, in fact good, why can they or will they not get a license when it will be required by law to perform inspections as of January 1, 2008.

The "a license doesn't make a good inspector" won't work then.

Aug 20, 2007 11:12 AM

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