Replies

1. 
   bobl | Jul 13, 2004 03:33pm | #1

   Why?

   If you are a GC, implication being you have a going business, do you want to close it and open up a different business?

   or would it be part of your current business?

   _____________________________

   bobl          Volo, non valeo

2. 
   dIrishInMe | Jul 13, 2004 03:49pm | #2

   I just passed the NC HI test...  I took a class at the local community college to get started.  At this point, I'm not sure if I'm going to go forward with actually being a HI.  Not sure if the work/compensation/hassle all balances out...  The licensing fee is $150 per year which, IMO is a little high, and you can't let it expire or you are back to square 1.  The year starts in October.  To get the license, you either have to have a GC license (not a prob for you), or do 100 inspections under the supervision of a licensed HI.  (I too have the GC license)  HI insurance is rather expensive - "Errors and Omissions" insurance is maybe $2k per year.   You probably need $1-2k in special tools/testers too.

   To learn more start at this web site:  http://www.ncdoi.com/OSFM/Home/Marshal.asp?PARAMSection=sidEngineeringCode&PARAMCategory=cidNCHomeInspectorLicensureAndEducationBoard and specifically, read this document: http://www.ncdoi.com/OSFM/Documents/Engineering/HILB/BoardRules.PDF

   I'm gonna be interested to see how this thread develops - obviously, I've give the HI thing serious consideration.  Also, I wonder what the prevailing rates ($s) are for HIs in NC.
    

   Matt
3. 
   Costofthings | Jul 13, 2004 04:59pm | #3

   Hello, I am a licensed Home inspector in VA (43 more to go for certification). I didn’t read the NC standards but you should study them closely and take each step slow and sure, seems like each state is different. I truly think that one day all will be on one page of music but it’s far from it right now from where I sit. I think in Ohio you must ride along with a “certified” Home inspector 250 times to receive ones certification. A bit to much control imho.

   Virginia has some very good advocates and lobbyists in the Home Inspection field, this is partially why I chose to continue my construction education in this career. The other reasons are I really like finding safety problems and helping resolve them (while getting paid to do it), construction related issues, and basically I am excited about learning about the different style of homes out there. I think you should like this at least half way if you are going to do it. Yes, people will be people, so count on that and protect your self with some liability insurance at a minimum. The pre- inspection agreement is very important and stating what you will and won’t inspect from the beginning with this written contract is a must.( I use the Matrix report.)

   Home Inspections in my area start around 300$ and go up from there based upon the age and size. The full amount of what I have spent is around 40,000$ so far. Don’t let that figure scare you, 32,000$ was spent on a new truck. The rest was spent on education, memberships, tools, control forms, and travel. I foresee continuing education being a big part of this in the future also. I think Bob Walker had a great thread on Home Inspection not to long ago here on BT. Hope this helps - Pricey

4. 
   BillHartmann | Jul 13, 2004 05:57pm | #4

   "I have read some past post and it seems that the turnover is high, maybe due to the fact that if you do a good job then realtors hate you and if you do a poor job homeowners want to sue you. "

   You might want to talk to a few RE agents in your area.

   There seems to be a big difference in attitude around the country.

   My RE agent welcomes them and is glade when a client uses one. It is a buffer between them and any problems.

   They don't want the client calling them in 3 months about a wet basement and what is the RE agent going to do about it.

5. 
   YesMaam27577 | Jul 13, 2004 09:54pm | #5

   I am a GC in North Carolina and I am thinking of becoming a home inspector.

   If I'm not mistaken, NC has a regulation that prevents anyone who is in the business of building or repairing houses, from being a HI.. The intent is to orevent conflicts of interest, where the inspector "finds" a problem, then offers to fix it.

   You should check with the licensing authority, to see if your GC business sould have to be sold/abandoned.

   And here (25 miles SE of Raleigh), we seem to need a good HI or two. As a handyman, I get a lot of the repair calls from the realtors. I've found that most of the HI's around here do work of varying quality. Not finding problems that seemed obvious to me; listing horrible-sounding problems that were actually quite minor; and actually causing damage in one case.

   Unless you're the lead dog, the view just never changes.

1. 
   dIrishInMe | Jul 14, 2004 12:04am | #6

   I'm in NC too, and actually, you are mistaken.  It WOULD be a conflict of interest if a HI found problems with a home and then tried to sell the owner repair services.  

   BTW - Normally in NC a HO can do any repiar on his own home.  In the case of a home sale though, significant repairs are required to be done by people licensed for the appropiate repair:  Structural problem = GC (possibly designed by a PE or archi).  Plumbing prob = plumber.  etc, ect.  The theory being that since the home is to be sold, the owner can't do the repairs as he will shortly not any longer be the owner.

   Matt

6. 
   andybuildz | Jul 14, 2004 02:16am | #7

   Wheres Bobby Walker when ya need him......probably on Capital Hill doing an inspection...lol

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