Believe it or not, home buyers were once at the mercy of their own knowledge or that of a trusted friend. Sellers had no duty to disclose material defects. Real estate professionals weren’t tasked with helping buyers understand what they were getting into. Property inspectors didn’t exist. And many buyers had little choice but to…
You can learn a lot from home inspectors with years in the industry. Experience is often the best teacher, at least once your formal education is out of the way. What do some of the most well-known inspectors in the industry want you to know? Here are 4 pieces of advice, all of which can…
Winter is the slow real estate season, which means your business might slow down, as well. But you don’t have to wait with idle hands. There’s plenty to keep you busy when your work pace isn’t quite as hectic. If you’re looking for some interesting projects to boost your business before the market upswing next…
Working your way through training and certification is just the beginning. Your career is what comes after. It all might seem intimidating, at least at first. But plenty of other inspectors have stood where you are now. And you’ve got a roadmap. You’ve earned the skills to take on your first home inspection. And you’ll…
Drywall that’s manufactured in China has given American and Canadian homeowners plenty to worry about. But some American-made drywall has tested worse for the corrosive substances than the familiar wallboard from the Far East. Surprised? So was almost everyone else. While the “Chinese Drywall” phrase gets tossed around whenever there’s an issue with defective, rotting…
You’ve read a blog or two, so why not give blogging a shot? You don’t have to be an award-winning writer to create home inspection-related content that your audience will want to read. You only have to talk about what matters to them. It’s not difficult, and it doesn’t have to cost a single penny.…
What’s so great about a state-level home inspector association, anyway? Plenty. Many home inspectors join one of the major national associations. But many states have their own associations, too. For example, Kentucky has KREIA and California has CREIA. We never said their acronyms had to be clever. Benefits of a state association membership are similar…
If you make yourself look bad, you make the alternative look great. Do you dream of driving away customers and sending them to your competition? Of course not. But if you’re not careful, that might very well happen. Some less-than-stellar business practices are as plain as the nose on your face. You wouldn’t fail to…
Stephan Baldwin is the Director of Business Development for Assisted Living Center, a directory of assisted living communities. Home inspection is a complex and skill oriented field that appeals to a lot of people. With proper training, the right skills and dedication, anyone can become a competent home inspector. Home inspection training teaches the regulations,…
As a home inspector, you depend on referrals to drive more customers to your business. More customers mean more income, but that all hinges on who hands out your business cards and sings your praises. In many cases, real estate agents. Agents are your friends, or they should be. While you can drive business with…