Category Archives: Continuing Education

The Internet of Things Turns Ordinary Houses Into Smart Homes

The Internet of Things makes any average home a smart one. If you’ve heard about the Internet of Things or IOT, you might have more questions than answers. In short, the concept is all about living in a wirelessly connected home where electronic objects such as thermostats, televisions and even kitchen appliances are accessible and…

5 Important Facts About Radon

To be so noble, radon causes an awful lot of problems. You can’t see it, taste it or smell it, but the effects of radon gas can be far reaching. Radon is dangerous because it’s undetectable without testing and its presence is a health hazard. It might be all around you, and you’d never know…

New Avenue for Revenue: Rental Home Inspections

A home is a home, whether it’s rented or owned outright. The same issues that can plague homeowners can also affect tenants. The big difference is responsibility for the repairs. Where a homeowner is likely to want repairs that make the home more habitable, a rental situation might not be that straightforward. Landlords might balk.…

Don’t Let Technology Make You See (Infra)Red

It might look like a simple electronic device, but an IR camera is an expensive tool that might just be worth it. How familiar are you with infrared technology? If you’re a new inspector, it might be completely foreign. But it’s time to break down any barriers and get with the program. Inspectors have used…

The Agent Misquoted Your Fee. Now What?

Misquoted fees cause hard feelings all the way around, so stop it in its tracks. You rely heavily on real estate agents handing out your business cards and sending customers your way. And you’re eternally grateful for the business that it generates. But all of it can go pear-shaped when the agent quotes a fee…

Bidding Wars Make Reckless Buyers

When two or more people are vying for the same home, what’s the last thing that any party wants to do? That’s right, no one wants to fall behind in the bidding process and risk losing the house. An ordinary sale can turn into an outright tug-of-war where the winner takes all. Unfortunately, buyers sometimes…

How to Branch Out of Your Home and Into a New Home Inspection Office

If you’re like most home inspectors, you began your career working from a home office. But there might come a point where you need a little more space. A home office is a great setup that saves you money in those important early years. But if you’ve outgrown the kitchen table or just want a…

Hiring Your First Employee? Here’s how to Get it Right

So your business is really taking off and you have more work than you can handle alone? That’s great! You might get a case of nerves if you’ve never been an employer before. There’s so much to organize and so much to do. But if you set out your plan first, getting through it is…

You Broke it You Bought It? Who Pays When Damage Occurs

Sooner or later it’s bound to happen. It doesn’t matter how careful you are, some day, some way, you’ll probably break something during the course of performing a home inspection. Liability management is a “huge issue for home inspectors,” says Working RE magazine. So much so that insurance isn’t optional, and the utmost care is…

Green Inspections Earn More Green for Your Wallet

As more homeowners want efficient homes with a lower environmental impact, the call for “green inspections” is expected to rise. More homeowners want to know about details such as the home’s energy score, plus its energy efficiency and water efficiency rating. This information, says Carol Dikelsky for ASHI Reporter, helps prospective buyers and existing homeowners…