I know that in this economy there are a lot of us out here who are Unemployed, underemployed and underutilized who will grab onto just about anything in order to keep from going under. I understand that feeling myself, however I am always skeptical of anything that comes along that promises a lot of money for not a lot of work. As we all know that’s not how it’s supposed to happen. Now true, working a couple of hours at my computer every day and making thousands of dollars a day while doing it sounds rather nice. What they don’t tell you is how much work goes into that before you can even get to that point.
Why am I telling you all of this? Well it’s because of something I came across recently. I saw this ad in my local fishwrap yesterday and again today, and I can’t believe that some people actually fall for this.
I don’t know if any of you have seen this ad in your classifieds or online somewhere at CareerBuilder of Monster but if you have, here’s a word of advice: DON’T FALL FOR IT!!!
Here is the way the ad appeared yesterday in the Idaho Statesman:
GENERAL LABOR
Hiring (4), $750/wk. Foreclosure Inspections for 3 banks in Boise. No Exp. Req! Please provide own background check. Call 1-800-9506-1920 or www.forclosurebankinspector.com
Can any or all of you pick out just what is wrong with that ad or even that idea?
First of all the phone number is screwed up, now weather that is the fault of the person placing the ad or the person taking the ad I have no idea, but you would think that someone would have proofread that before it got sent to the printer.
Second is the money that is promised. $750 a week amounts to $39,000 per year, or if you prefer, $18.75 an hour for a forty hour week. That money sounds too good to be true considering what is going on right now. But the job is for Foreclosure Inspectors so maybe that explains the pay they can pull down. I mean there are a lot of people going through foreclosure now, right? And someone needs to inspect the houses for the banks so they know what to ask for at auction, right? And if I don’t go out and get it then someone else will, right? OK, sign me up, what do I need to do!?!?
Well slow down before any of you start planning how you’re going to spend all of that extra caysh that you think you’ll be making lets take a look at the third red flag: you need to provide your own background check to them.
Huh?!? Wait a minute, you have to provide a background check on yourself? Apparently.
However, there is another alternative. If you go to their website (which I did) you soon discover that there is another option if you do not want to have to run around town, untangling red tape as you go to try to get the information that they want. You can get your background check through them, just send them $95.00 and they will get a background check on you through their third-party investigative service and they will do the background check for you. On their website they say in various sections that they require you to go through their service, and in other parts they tell you that you can do it yourself so it is very confusing.
However once the background check is done and if your application is approved then they send you their Bank Inspector Foreclosure Kit which must be completed in full. Inside the kit is the following:
- 60 question, open book test on inspections.
- 10 question racial-bias inquiry.
- Inspector days and times availability form.
- Employee Application.
- 15 pages of website and courthouse information.
- Step by step guide on “checklist” inspections.
- 20 pages of the companies references and credentials.
- Over 60 pages of information packed into the kit.
They say that no experience or State License is required for the checklist Bank Foreclosure Inspections are “walk-through only”. I’m guessing that means that you don’t have to go up into the attic, down into the crawlspace, looking for cracks in the walls and foundation and making sure that the house is in good structural condition and free of major damage. I’m guessing that this means that you go through the house and check items that are on a list, and they say that most of these inspections take about an hour-and-a-half to do one house.
Now if you figure in that $750 per week, and if they say they can get you into 2-3 houses in a week, and if each inspection takes an hour-and-a-half…..why, that’s anywhere from $166.67 – $250.00 per hour!!! That’s Amazing!!!!!
Yeah, it’s also a load of bullcrap! Come on, we’ve all heard this before, right? Someone out there says that they have a fool proof way of making you money, and all you have to do is to send them money and they will show you how.
Now I went ahead and Googled this company. The top two results that came back led me to their website, no surprise there. But the next eight results on the front page led me to websites that said that this was nothing but a scam. There was one page that was for an ABC affiliate in Knoxville, TN. According to Dena Rea Ford she called the number and was skeptical about all the things they were telling her. Good thing she was because according to Chuck Ward who is a licensed realtor and specialist in foreclosures:
When a property is foreclosed on, the back, they hire a local realtor, sign a contract with a local realtor, to list the property. But the first part of that is they hire a company to trash out the house, mow the yard.
I didn’t even know you had to be an inspector to remove the trash out of a house.
You want someone who is going to spend two, three, four hours in that house and examine every part of that house. The state has a standard practice that every home inspector licensed with the state has to follow
Paul Tucker, who is a licensed home inspector and registered professional engineer, says criminal background checks aren’t necessary to be an inspector, but a state license is required.
And then there was this exchange I found on Yahoo! Answers:
I saw an add in the paper from this company (also known as Nationwide Property Inspections). Basically you fill out their application and you become an inspector for foreclosed homes.
After doing some research, it turns out you become a sub-contractor and have to do the leg work yourself (get insured, find the foreclosed homes, write letters to the bank).
My question is how would I get certified as a foreclosed home inspector in NC? (this way I can cut out the middle man)
It takes several years to become certified, and there is a lot of testing involved. You have to pass Federal, state and county building code test. Your county (who licenses you) housing authority would know when/where the next testing is if you are already qualified.
You do not just fill out an application and Viola! You are a Housing Inspector. I personally think you are probably looking at a scam, they are wanting you to pay for something.
I showed the ad to wifey and she agreed with me that something about this was not right and I will be staying away from it, thank you.
And remember what I always tell you clones…”If it sounds too good to be true, GOOGLE IT!!!!!”
I see ads for foreclosures all the time and most of the time if you want to see them, you need $. So seeing ads like this have me weary. Most foreclosures are as is basis. If the banks want them inspected, it is safe to assume that they have their own inspectors. Most people can look into what the banks require for this particular position. You might find one that is will to train and pay you while being an inspection apprentice, where one can train and go for a license. It depends on the company, the bank, and the general requirements.
Personally, I think in this economy, I would have a hard time giving anyone my money for a position like this. Most buyers who go for these foreclosures are buying as is conditions. What happens afterwards is up to the buyer. Unfortunately, the homes could look like new but that is cosmetically and there could be other big problems under lying the whole structure. Research and find what is best in any situation. One just never knows until they look into it.
Yeah that’s the thing that I don’t understand…they say they just go through the homes and check off items on a list and it’s supposed to take about and hour-and-a-half. But what about all of the things that you can’t see? What about the foundation, how sound is it? Does the attic have good insulation? Is the electrical wiring in good shape? These are questions that if I were working foreclosures at a bank I would want to know ahead of time. That way when the sale went through I would not be accused of fraud because I didn’t disclose any defects.
But you do have a good point though, people should be able to enquire at their banks as to what is required to become an inspector, and if that’s what you really want then hopefully you can train as an apprentice somewhere.
I know in the case of this company they provide you no materials for you to learn and to take the test, you have to try to find the right books on your own. Yeah right. If I were really interested I would save the $89 and research my local state requirements for a job like this.
Most definately. What bothers me about the ad is that they supply limited items but what does your money buy? Here is the thing… most people can find out the requirements by talking with their banks. sometimes banks will sub-contract inspectors but if they carry their own, they might hire apprentices. My dad was an electrician. My husband is a Jack-of-all-trades, and he has done wiring, plumming, etc.. He said what most people do not realize is that you can go to these mom and pop companies, and sometimes they might let you work as an apprentice for them. You can go and talk to an electrician, and find out things like codes, and the state can tell you more. I would be very sceptical about buying something like this when very little is offered and not enough answers to questions that may come up. This doesn’t even sound remotely like a good idea. Safe the money and enroll in a course. That way,you can guarantee your money is wisely spent, and with people who have answers to questions and explainations as to why things are done a certain way.
All certainly true, but I don’t support what you say myself. I will stay the more traditional view. But I certainly support your right to say what you want. Cool anyway.
Where did you got this much info on your blog from?? Also can i take the initiave to take the feeds from your blog for my yoga website?? But cant find the RSS feeds link here!!
Excellent read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little research on that. And he actually bought me lunch because I found it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch!
Cool! But I my own ideas myself. But I definitely support your right to say what you want.
I didn’t quite understand this at first. But when I read it a third time, it all became clear. Thanks for the insight. Absolutely something to think about.
Interesting. It’s the same here in Phoenix. Can be remarkably amusing, but that’s how it is in this day and age.
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