The home inspection is one of the most crucial parts of the home buying process. Offers are finalized or revoked as a result of a home inspector’s report. A home inspection can be a source of anxiety for buyers, sellers, and real estate agents. However, real estate agents can ease some of their clients’ anxieties by helping them to be better educated and prepared for the home inspection process. Many aggravations can be avoided if the real estate agent prepares the buyer and seller before the inspection takes place. 

The two main types of real estate that can be bought or sold are commercial and residential. Commercial properties are those that will be used for business purposes, such as a storefront, manufacturing warehouse, office building, or apartment complex. No matter the intended use, any commercial property should be inspected using an experienced inspector to minimize risk during the real estate transaction. This course aims to educate real estate professionals on the basics of commercial inspections, including what areas are inspected and what to look for when showing a commercial property, so they are better equipped to guide their clients through the transaction.

There are many naturally-occurring hazards that are found in and around real estate.  This course aims to educate the real estate professional on the most common environmental hazards, providing definitions, health risks, and testing procedures for mold, radon, lead, asbestos, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde.  The process for mitigating each of these is also covered.

This course was designed to help real estate agents identify key features & areas of concern across a wide range of homes over the last century and beyond. Home construction is constantly changing and evolving, and this course will identify the most important changes over the years and what they mean for home buyers, sellers, and real estate professionals.

Building a traditional site-built home can be a lengthy and expensive process, especially as building material costs continue to increase; because of this, many buyers are choosing alternative home types, such as mobile or manufactured homes. Real estate agents that show mobile and manufactured homes should be able to address their client’s questions and concerns. This course aims to educate the agent on all aspects of the mobile/manufactured home, so they are better equipped for their clients.

The presence of mold can derail the home buying process. Participants of this course will learn common causes of mold and how they can be addressed in order to diminish the impact of mold when buying and selling a property. 

Any home, regardless of when it was built, its location, or the materials used to build the home, can expose its residents to radon. Many states require that a home’s radon history be disclosed to potential buyers. As a result, radon testing may play an important role in the real estate transaction process. Real estate agents that are better informed on the potential hazards associated with radon as well as mitigation techniques will be able to better guide their clients through the real estate transaction process. 

One of the house’s most integral operating systems is the heating system. As a result, potential buyers may have questions or concerns about the condition of a home’s heating system. Real estate agents will be able to serve as advocates for their clients during the home buying process as a result of participating in this course.