I was getting multiple request (as a notary now) to go to homes, take pictures inside/outside and then place a lockbox on the house. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve told them I’m a notary and not a Real Estate Agent. They have offered to pay for the lockbox up front (yes, it was expected that I would buy it and get reimbursed). Where does this craziness come from? I can’t give company names as I’ve reported them and blocked them but younger, inexperienced notaries that might be asked to do home inspections…please take heed! This can be a legitimate business to supplement income in slow, poor, rural areas but please beware!
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Only people licensed by the North Carolina Home Inspector Licensure Board can perform home inspections for compensation – same as it is in my state, Washington. In NC, unlicensed people can perform inspections but cannot get paid for them. And why in the world would any notary perform a home inspection FOR FREE? That is crazy IMO. Hiring companies who are making these types of home inspection requests are not considering what the rules are for that state or what the potential civil/criminal consequences might be for the notary.
I’ve worked for a couple different services that offer stuff like that. It’s not called home inspection. I’ve talked to one of the services about the WA state law and was told this is not home inspection you’re validating property for a lender. Such as I took photos at gas stations for the corporate office that shows if there are any lighting issues on signage. I took pictures at a burned down commercial address. I’m not with the state licensing board so I am not aware of the official criteria. But I’ve done it for a while. I also work with a company that asks for secret shopper assignments when a business is trying to get approval for hand held credit card machines. So, I take pictures at a business and buy something and answer a bunch of questions.
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Exactly, the few I’ve done are not inspection. Just pictures. Their way to determine if they want to go any farther. I don’t have to give anything in writing. The owners are not objecting and making the home available. But these guys asking me to do this then install a lockbox…of course not!! Can you imagine all the different scenarios that could play out?
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Install it? Oh wow. I’ve had to use one to gain entry but installation - that’s someone else. They recently sent word they want inspectors to buy these testers for electrical outlets because they are getting into that. But to me, that’s getting close to rubber stamping things I don’t want to be a party to rubber stamping. And electricity - well that will kill you. I haven’t bought that 5-dollar tester yet. Not sure that would fly in this state.