For years, author Thomas O'Connor has accumulated interesting, and often hilarious, stories from numerous home inspections. Many are for first-time buyers for whom he has done several home inspections together before they find one that passes. Some of the problems an inspector repeatedly sees are obvious to the professional (wet basements, roof leaks, mold, electrical wiring done by a non-electrician, gas leaks, etc.). This book teaches buyers what to look for before they pay a professional inspector to find a house that passes. If buyers knew a little bit more about what to look for, they would save lots of money! About the Author Thomas O'Connor is a three-year reelected president of the Western PA chapter of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors). He has performed over fifteen thousand residential and commercial building inspections for both buyers and sellers and has also been a speaker at realtor and first time home buyer meetings for three decades. Thomas currently resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

This introductory overview of the major home systems gives students a solid foundation for beginning a career in home inspection. This comprehensive text gets students out into the field quickly while serving as a springboard for the 13 advanced electives in the Principles line. Systems & Standards focuses on system and component problems, their practical implications, and inspections strategies for finding them. No other single volume offers both the breadth and depth of this introduction.

Handy Around the House? Turn That Talent Into a Lucrative Business! Home inspections have become standard for a large percentage of the seven million homes bought each year. This presents a huge market for professional inspectors. As a home inspector, you can earn $500 - $800 a day examining the interior and exterior of a home and giving potential home-buyers your professional, informed opinion. Learn everything you need to know to get started in this booming field. Industry experts reveal their tips and advice on: Current typical startup costs for low-end and high-end businesses Inspection equipment you'll need Whether to operate from home or an office How to keep records, manage your finances and stay ahead of your tax liability How to advertise and promote your business to find clients Market sectors you can't afford to overlook If you have construction experience or are simply handy around the house, a home inspection service is the business for you.

For home buyers and home sellers. Here is the first how-to that addresses the needs of both buyers and sellers, making it the perfect companion to the bestselling The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Buying and Selling a Home. The buyer will depend on this guide to determine whether a house is worth buying. The seller will need it to determine which repairs are necessary before listing or signing anything. Readers will learn to troubleshoot all areas of a home, including its structure and foundation, windows and doors, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, insulation, electrical systems, and the roof, just to name a few. In this Pocket Idiot’s Guide®, you get: • What to look for when inspecting the electrical system, the roof, and other parts of the home. • Simple advice on what to do if the results of your inspections aren’t good. • Expert explanation of what you can expect during and after the inspection. • Easy ways to tell if a home is worth buying—or if it will need extensive repairs before you put it on the market.

Here is a comprehensive instruction manual covering every aspect of exterior, interior, and electromechanical home inspection--basic enough for a layperson and detailed enough to be a working tool for professional home inspectors. Revealing techniques and methods used by experts, this heavily-illustrated reference details how to evaluate the condition of a home or condominium apartment. Precise step-by-step procedures enable the reader to inspect a home as though accompanied by an inspector with many years' experience. Written by a professional home inspector, COMPLETE BOOK OF HOME INSPECTION, 3rd Ed. is packed with photographs, dozens of checklists and worksheets, and a valuable summary which appears at the end of each chapter.

Home inspectors is one of the fastest-growing jobs in the real estate industry. This audio book explains what they do, how to find the most lucrative markets, and what equipment is needed.

Starting a home inspection business can be a great way to make money while helping people. It may seem a little daunting at first glance to create your own business, but with the right tools and information, you can easily make it happen. In addition, with a booming housing market and new technologies for writing inspection reports and sending them, the obstacles to entry for home inspectors are lower now than they’ve ever been. This book outlines the basics of starting your own home inspection company, including licensing requirements and what services to offer.

Negotiate a great price Find your best mortgage Discover applications and checklists online Get the Best Deal on Your New Home! When it comes to buying a home, it's hard to know where to begin. You want to buy at a fair price at the right time—not always easy in a fast-changing market. The updated Home Buying Kit has all you need: strategies to secure the optimal deal, the ins and outs of home financing, how to evaluate rent vs. buy, and the latest on regulations around mortgage interest and property tax. Whether a first-time buyer or veteran homeowner, this book will help you make the smart decisions that move you into your dream home in no time! Inside... Get your finances in order Improve your credit score Choose the right mortgage Build your real estate team Maximize your financial health Inspect and protect your home Understand and minimize closing costs