Special offer

BECOME A HOME INSPECTOR FOR JUST $49! WHAT?

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Allegiance, Managing Broker/Branch Vice President

The highlighted message screamed out to me today from the classified ad section in the back of Popular Mechanics.  My wife purchased this subscription for me in an attempt to raise my home handiness quotient.  You see, except for the simple lightbulb change, most repairs around the house require a call to our trusted handyman.

Among the ads for various do-it-yourself projects, machine tools, and business opportunities, was this beauty:

BECOME A HOME INSPECTOR
FOR JUST $49!  FREE INFORMATION
CALL 24HRS

I don't know about you, but I don't want a $49 home inspector scrutinizing the biggest investment of my life.  Will that fellow understand the intricacies of plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems?  Will they know the latest about energy efficient appliances and can they even find the emergency water shut-off?

The inspectors with whom I've worked and who I trust on a regular basis to inspect the homes that my clients purchase are not of the back of the magazine DIY variety.  Most of these inspectors gained their thorough knowledge of home construction, maintenance, and systems through years of hard work as a contractor.  Many of them worked as plumbers, electricians, handymen, etc.  They didn't just call up a 24 hour hotline, pay their $49 and hold themselves out to be experts.

All this got me thinking about real estate agents.  While I haven't seen an advertisement that says "Become a REALTOR for just $49," the reality is that the requirements to enter the profession are not very stringent.  There are most certainly too many agents running around out there who couldn't tell you the difference between a condo and a co-op or explain a clause in the purchase contract.  There are agents who know little more about the neighborhood than the directions on their GPS, and less about the market than their clients who read the newspaper.

While the skills needed to become a real estate agent require very little beyond knowing how many square feet are in an acre (this bit of trivia really comes in useful at cocktail parties), the necessary skills for truly thriving as a real estate professional are great.  Whether through classroom time, reading and studying, or extensive time out in the field dealing with transaction after transaction, the consummate real estate professional will constantly increase their knowledge base to help better serve their clients.

Avoid the $49 home inspector.  Likewise, make sure you delve deeper into the knowledge of your real estate agent before you make a decision to work with them.  Ask the right probing questions to determine their knowledge and professionalism.

When it comes to real estate, you need to hire an expert.

Contact Brian Block, REALTOR/Attorney, RE/MAX Allegiance: Licensed in Virginia & Washington D.C.
Cell: 703-626-0715. If you are interested in purchasing or selling a property in Northern Virginia including Arlington County, Alexandria City, Annandale, Burke, D.C., Fairfax County, Falls Church City, Lorton, McLean, Springfield, Washington D.C., contact Brian today.

Comments (19)

Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Until recently, home inspectors in Maryland were not required to have a license... all they had to do was print up business cards and get someone to hire them.  Up-front education requirements and ongoing education requirements, not to mention real-world experience, are so important - 'Glad you pointed out this ad.  It will provide a good talking point with clients.

Dec 27, 2008 12:10 AM
Bryant Tutas
Tutas Towne Realty, Inc and Garden Views Realty, LLC - Winter Garden, FL
Selling Florida one home at a time

Brian, In Florida there are no licensing requirements to be a home inspector. They could use the $49 to purchase business cards and an occupational license and they are good to go.

I think you can get a real estate license in Florida for about $300. And you can do it in about 10 days.

All of this is why it is so important for the consumer to ask the right questions before hiring anybody.

A license and/or business card mean absolutely nothing.

Dec 27, 2008 12:12 AM
Charlottesville Solutions
Charlottesville Solutions - Charlottesville, VA

LOL!!! What a bargain. I agree with you who in the world would want this type of an inspector looking at your biggest purchase...

Bryant are you kidding, no licensing?

Dec 27, 2008 12:29 AM
Jim Lee, REALTOR, CRS, ABR
RE/MAX Shoreline - Portsmouth, NH
Buying or Selling? Ann & Jim are the local experts

Hey, if you can become a Realtor/expert for $49 (less dues and MLS fees) what's the problem with a bargain basment home inspector?

Dec 27, 2008 12:33 AM
Matthew Rathbun
Coldwell Banker Elite - Fredericksburg, VA
ABR/M, CRB, CRS, SRS, ePRO, SFR, GRI

Uh, the RE market is tough, could you e-mail me that number, please?  :)

Dec 27, 2008 12:35 AM
Erby Crofutt
B4 U Close Home Inspections&Radon Testing (www.b4uclose.com) - Lexington, KY
The Central Kentucky Home Inspector, Lexington KY

As Bryant pointed out, in several states you can use the $49.00 to print business cards and start marketing yourself.  Why waste it on the 24 hour hotline call.

The inspection market is tough too Matt.

Lots of those $49.00 guys dropping off now, or after they figure out it really is hard work and tough to market.

Though I personally know several agents who love the $49.00 type inspector, well until the lawsuit starts anyway.  I also know a couple of agents who push their husband as the inspector of choice.  A house across the street sold that way.  The "inspector" was there for at least 45 minutes!

Kinda funny that in several states builders aren't required to have any type of training or licensing either.

Dec 27, 2008 12:55 AM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

You struck on a subject that has always been a real pet peeve of mine. The barriers to entry in Real Estate are just way too low! It is amazing that you can get a license in a couple of weeks yet you are involved with a fairly complex transaction that has so many ramifications to a number of parties.

Dec 27, 2008 02:17 AM
Jim Lee, REALTOR, CRS, ABR
RE/MAX Shoreline - Portsmouth, NH
Buying or Selling? Ann & Jim are the local experts

Bill:

License? Lots of states don't even have licensure requirements for home inspectors.

"Licenses? We don't need no steenkin licenses."

Dec 27, 2008 02:25 AM
Jason Crouch
Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Austin, TX
Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653)

Yikes!  That sounds scary, huh?  Incidentally, I think my home handiness quotient is actually a negative number.  I figured an old math club guy like you would appreciate that joke.

Dec 27, 2008 02:59 AM
Tina Maraj
RE/MAX One - Fullerton, CA
Celebrating 30 Years of Real Estate Sales

That is pretty scary! I think I know a few real estate agents that might get into that!

Dec 27, 2008 03:01 AM
Kristal Kraft
Novella Real Estate - Denver, CO
Selling Metro Denver Real Estate - 303-589-2022

LOL what is this like Knighthood? For $49 the Queen waves her magic wand and you become a Home Inspector?  How cool is that?  Not!

It's downright scary!

Happy New Year!

kk

Dec 27, 2008 03:27 AM
Gary White~Grand Rapids Home Selling Pro Call: 616-821-9375
Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions" - Grand Rapids, MI
Real Estate Services You can Trust!

Happy Holidays Brian,  Stopped by to wish you and yours a Happy New Year and find I can get my home inspected by a $49.95 instant inspector!  I taught OCS after returning from Vietnam...we called the graduates Instant Officers!  They had book learning and no practical knowledge...the trouble with a 49.95 course you might now have either!  Have a Great Holiday Brian.

Dec 27, 2008 04:28 AM
Barb Szabo, CRS
RE/MAX Above & Beyond - Cleveland, OH
E-pro Realtor, Cleveland Ohio Homes

Brian, I suspect that we will see a decrease of those $49.00 inpsectors along with a lot of the real estate wannabes this year. And that's probably good.

Dec 27, 2008 06:32 AM
Janice Roosevelt
Keller Williams Brandywine Valley - West Chester, PA
OICP ABR, ePRO,Ecobroker

Don't think this will take hold!

Dec 28, 2008 12:25 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Ah, with real estate, they pull you in with the "free" pre-licensing course, then they hit you with the rest of it.  But you're right, it's like a mail order college degree.

Dec 28, 2008 01:16 AM
Janna Scharf
Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene - Coeur d'Alene, ID
Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Expert

That is scary!  I can't begin to count the ways that a poorly trained inspector could cause havoc with a purchase!  Yikes!

Dec 28, 2008 01:19 AM
Lisa Heindel
Crescent City Living LLC - New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Real Estate Broker

As soon as I started reading, my immediate thought was "it's just like becoming an agent"!  A couple of years ago, there was an offer locally to take all of the pre-licensing classes online for $39.95.  How scary is that?  I've definitely run across some of these agents and they are in way over their heads.  I don't wish ill on anyone, but some people just need to find another line of work before they do some real harm to a consumer.

Dec 28, 2008 01:57 AM
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Hi Brian...Not only is getting a license fairly easy here in Virginia so are the continuing education requirements.  I am very happy that we are now required to have 16 hours. Some people seem to be resentful.  

I had 33 by the time I renewed my license.  I enjoy learning or, in my case, often re-learning.

Kate

Dec 30, 2008 10:19 AM
Kay Van Kampen
RE/MAX Broker, RE/MAX - Springfield, MO
Realtor®, Springfield Mo Real Estate

Woo Hoo!  Sounds like a bargain.  Wonder what they learn for $49?  How to correctly plug in a light bulb?  Think I'll stick with the certified inspectors I currently use.

Dec 30, 2008 11:47 AM