Whether you are a first time home buyer or an experienced real estate investor you should read this article before your next purchase of any Maryland Real Estate. After January first 2008, all home inspectors in the State of Maryland must be licensed in order to continue to inspect Maryland homes. This author's personal opinion when purchasing Maryland real estate, or anywhere one of the most important part of the home buying process is to get your home inspected. The licensing requirement took effect last week and there are roughly anywhere between 800 and 900 currently licensed Maryland home inspectors. The Executive Director of the State's Commission of Real Estate Appraisers and Home Inspectors said that there are roughly between 300 and 400 home inspectors that are still completing all the requirements they need to practice in the State of Maryland. An interesting fact to note about majority of home inspectors of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC homes , is that Maryland is the only state with a Licensing requirements.
The law is also putting into effect a complaint system for clients. Clients that are dissatisfied and believe that the inspection was not done to the industry's standards can file a complaint form that can be found on the Maryland Home Inspectors Website. Then these consumers can also go as far as to sending the commission a copy of the inspection in order for a review of the proposed unacceptable conduct.
If you are considering selling or buying property in Virginia here are some interesting new facts about the purchasing process. From now on in Virginia Sellers no longer will have a choice of giving a buyer a disclaimer form that says "they make no representations about the property." Rather on the new form it says that the seller will not make any warranties about the property and rather that the buyer should rely on their own home inspectors report. Another change that will be found in 2008, are that the disclosures should also include any information about any pending enforcement actions, due to building violations, or zoning codes. Some other MD counties also have new disclosure rules that will be taking effect in 2008. Now the sellers and their agents are going to be required to disclose the property tax that the buyer should expect for the upcoming year. Another change that will occur in this area deals with properties located near agriculturally zoned areas. Sellers, who live in or near agriculturally zoned areas, must disclose to that buyer that they cannot pursue a lawsuit against farm owners on the basis of certain nuisances.
