A similar position to the real estate appraiser is the real estate inspector. This person is an expert in home construction and building regulations. It is their job to inspect a home and look for problems that a home has such as insufficient venting, leaky roof, foundation problems, or even infestations. They generally have a checklist of areas that they need to inspect, which follows state requirements. After the inspection is complete they fill out a report that tells the buyer if they found any areas of concern, or areas that will need to be repaired or corrected before a lender will be able to finance the buyer’s mortgage. Consultation fees for this profession again range between $200 and $300 per consultation.
If this profession appeals to you then you will need to take courses in home inspection. These courses are best done through a physical classroom that has field practicums as part of the class work. This way you get hands on experience conducting a home inspection before you try to convince someone to buy your services. In addition to classroom experience you will also need to purchase a business license, business liability insurance, and you will need to obtain a professional license for home inspection (if required by your state).
Currently only about half of the fifty states certify home inspectors so this may be one less fee that you will have to pay. However, check with your state regarding what licenses and certifications that you will need. Those states that do require certification usually have a training program created by the state that is offered to those seeking certification and licensing.