Originally Posted By: Elijah Schafer This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Hello All, I really enjoy your discussion board here and find it very helpful. Please take a moment to read this and give me any feedback that you can.
I am planning on starting a home inspection business in my home town and was wondering if I could get some expert advise on the idea.
I have been doing research on the area and have only found 2 inspectors that reside in the area. (50 mile radius). I figure some inspectors from out of the area drive to the area when contacted. I have talked to local realtors and they say that they prefer one because he handles wood destroying insects also. There was also an inspection business that recently went out of business in the area. I need to find out how often buyers get homes inspected around here. I know a few brokers and 6 or so realtors who would probably give me a chance. How many should I get?
I have recently graduated from O.S.U. (Buckeyes) with a BSBA and a major in real estate and urban analysis. I have had some construction experience during the summers. Might take 40 or 80 hours of schooling on home inspection. Also thinking about getting into real estate sales (since I already have taken all the classes) but it is kind of a conflict of interest with inspection. (What do you guys think?)
Also how often do banks and mortgage offices use inspectors because if they used them often I figure I could almost stay busy with them?
Any info would be greatly appreciated and I plan on joining you all as a member as soon as I can decide if I should give it a shot.
Originally Posted By: jmyers This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Eli,
What kind of conflict of interest do you think it is being a real estate agent and a home inspector. I guess that would be a conflict if you were inspecting the house for your buyer or seller.
Originally Posted By: lmartin This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Hi Joe , Please to meet you, you are quite right, the only conflict is is when one represents the buyer or seller , or any homes being sold with in the agency they work for , one can do inspections for other agencies. with no problem which leaves many places to inspect , while an agent is out there share what they do ( Home Inspections ) with other agencies.
Originally Posted By: jmyers This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Lester,
The conflict of interest would be for the inspector that is inspecting for their own buyer or seller. You could work for other agents in the office, that would not be a conflict of interest. It would however be wise for that agent to disclose it to their client.
Why would you think it would be a conflict of interest to work for other realtors in your office? Are you saying you would not be impartial because you know them?
Originally Posted By: lmartin This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Hi Joe , yes your right , mostly it is our company policy,I asked the owner . He was just thinking down the road there could be a problem and was trying to avoid one .
Originally Posted By: Elijah Schafer This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Thanks for the info guys,
That is what I was going at. Do you think you could still get inspection business from other realtors who you are in competition with. It seems they might try and get their clients to use someone else to keep them from helping the competition.
Any more comments on my chances at making a living in the home inspection business would also be appreciated.