Home Inspections - NYS 1

[EngWade]

I know this has been discussed a bit on here, but I haven't been able to find what I'm looking for. Does anyone on this site actually perform home inspections in new york state? If so, I'd appreciate some first hand information regarding it. For instance, do you perform them on the side or as a full-time business? If a full time business, does your business offer other services as well? According to the Division of Licensing Services in NY, a PE may perform home inspections as long as it falls within the scope of their profession.(quoted below from NYS DOL website)

"2. A person regulated by the state or a political subdivision thereof as an engineer who is acting within the scope of his or her profession; or "

What does that mean? Can a PE work as a site/civil engineer for another company, and perform home inspections on the weekends? Is it similar to the Engineer Code where a PE may perform engineering services only within areas they are competent?

I'm really looking for someone on here that knows specifically about this in NYS.

Thanks so much for your response.

 

[EnviroEng]

I have looked into this question since I'm in New York, work as a real estate agent on the side and perform foundation inspections from time to time, obviously not for the same real estate transactions of course. The most useful information I have found was by talking with the National Academy of Building Inspection Engineers (NABIE).

http://www.nabie.org/

They also offer a certification as a Board Certified Building Inspection Engineer which I intend to take prior to offering full home inspection services.

Based upon what I've ascertained is that you ought to setup a separate engineering firm, as a PLLC, PC, etc.. so that you can perform home inspections under your PE license and this separate engineering firm and you're all set.

Cris Schrader, P.E.
Sustainable Engineering & Environmental Design, PLLC (SEED)

http://www.seedpllc.com

 

[EngWade]

EnviroEng,

Thanks for the reply. You seem to know what I'm talking about. I would like to explore the possibilities for added income on the side, while continuing to work at my current employer, and maintain my professional reputation. To do that, I'm trying to come up with additional uses for my PE Stamp (I don't want to be a "Plan Stamper") that would be in a non-competive field to my current employer. So one of my ideas was to combine my interest and knowledge in homes with my license, and perform some home inspections on the side, while continuing to work for my current employer.

I find it interesting that you do Real Estate work on the side, as well. I've thought about that from time to time, but never really explored it too much. How does that work for you? Did you work for a realtor for a while to gain the experience required to become licensed? Or is there a loop hole somewhere?

 

[EnviroEng]

EngWade,

I got into real estate by renovating and selling homes on the side. I figured that I might as well get a real estate license since I was buying and selling for myself and it grew from there. I completed the typical real estate licensing course, passed the state exam and found a broker who didn't mind that I was working part time.

Cris Schrader, P.E.
Sustainable Engineering & Environmental Design, PLLC (SEED)

http://www.seedpllc.com