Some home inspectors specifically solicit work as an “expert witness” as a matter of choice. Others find their way into a courtroom or deposition hearing when they’re drawn in by opposing parties, usually because their testimony is deemed relevant to the lawsuit at hand. In these cases the home inspector often is served a…
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When a dissatisfied homeowner dashes off a complaint that is heated, insulting, inaccurate or not very well thought-through- maybe just a belligerent phone call, it is human nature for us to take it less seriously and to want to respond in kind: garbage in, garbage out. But that’s a mistake. No matter how…
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Should You Include Cost Estimates in Inspection Reports? By Natalie Eisen, Staff Writer Are home inspectors obligated to detail expected costs of repairs in their reports? Inspectors line up on both sides of the issue. A home inspector’s job, first and foremost, is to help his or her clients make an informed decision by thoroughly…
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Most appraisers cringe at the very mention of “marketing.” If you played word association with a group of appraisers using “marketing” as the target, they’d throw out “waste of time,” “snake oil,” “corporate suits,” and so on. They might even suggest some unprintable words and phrases. Very few in the group would say, “The single…
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The home inspector’s relationship with the real estate agent is a topic often discussed among home inspectors and agents. Some home inspectors tout strong relationships with real estate associations and agents as the best way to grow an inspection business. Others say the reliance of the home inspector on agent-referrals is a key problem when…
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Editor’s Note: Most homeowners take smoke and Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms for granted but they are important pieces of safety equipment that we as real estate professionals need to be aware of.
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Lagow was an appraisal manager and assistant vice president at Landsafe, Inc., the appraisal subsidiary of Countrywide, a position which gave him an inside look at the practices which caused the downfall of the largest mortgage lender in America. For his part, Lagow sees Countrywide as being at the heart of both the housing bubble…
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Frustrated with low-ball Appraisal Management Company (AMC) fees, appraisers are digging in, many refusing to work for less, some calling for a national strike to prove their point, but there may be a better way, such as knowing what appraisal services are worth in your market and demanding it. New regulations requiring fair pay for…
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Mold Inspectors: Proceed with Caution! by Jeff Jeffrey Deuitch If you are inspecting for mold and promoting yourself as a certified professional after completing only limited training/education, you may want to proceed with caution. Most states have no regulation or licensing of mold professionals. The increasing demand for mold professionals has led to the birth...…
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Pullig's research demonstrates that in these still-dodgy times for the real estate industry, it's vitally important to be proactive in your quest for customers.
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