Home buyers and sellers increasingly circumvent real estate agents by finding each other online. And while many buyers can do a very adequate job negotiating a good price, home inspection is a different matter and best left to professionals. So, who should they call? In Portugal, Checkhouse gives independent buyers confidence by extensively testing and checking a building's foundation, acoustics, wiring, roof, etc.
While traditional surveyors are mainly accustomed to dealing with real estate agents and builders, Springwise believes there's a growing market for pre-sale building inspectors that focus on consumers, combing a keen eye for structural problems with a good bedside manner when it comes to telling potential buyers that their dream house is in fact a money trap. Start small, but think big: build a well-branded, nationally-known chain or network, partner with real estate sites and stay impartial by not working for construction companies. For real estate agents feeling the pinch from online listing and pricing tools, it might be time to change careers and become a home inspector.
Website: www.checkhouse.pt
Contact:geral@checkhouse.pt
Spotted by: Miguel Muñoz Duarte
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Hi German -- Thanks for your question. Revenues are very simple: the company charges for its services. And potential buyers should be more than willing to pay, considering houses are fairly sizable investments ;-)
Do they charge a percentage of the total value of the house, like the commission that an agent would charge? Or do they charge a flat rate or per hour like a consultant?
Thanks
Sounds like a very good idea but fairly hard to start yourself unless you are working in the building or house maintaining sector. In order to give professional advice you have to be a professional in many fields.
Moritz
i cannot view their website in english as the uk flag icon does not work !
There is an independant architectural service like this in Australia. They charge a flat rate to the home buyer to do a thorough check of the structure of the home, and an estimate of what (if anything) needs to be spent to make it safe, habitable etc. Great idea, it gives peace of mind to those who have no idea what termnite damage looks like!
Very interesting, only question - from which source the company gets the revenue?
German | April 20, 2007 8:00 AM