Why Take This Course?

When selling a home, it’s essential for agents to truly understand what they are selling. Yet many agents aren’t always sure what they’re looking at or what they should be looking for. This course equips agents with the knowledge they need, starting with the building envelope and moving through the home’s major systems and components, including electrical, heating and air conditioning, plumbing, windows, doors, interior walls, structural support, and both interior and exterior finishes. Participants will learn how these systems function and how to recognize when something isn’t working as it should.
The course also highlights common “red flags” agents should watch for when listing or selling a property. Agents will gain a practical, working understanding of construction basics, how to physically inspect a home, take effective notes, and ask the right questions of owners or professionals when needed. In addition, the course explores the most common types of residential construction in use today and teaches agents how to identify them with confidence.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to:
1.  Identify the building envelope, and understand its function
2.  Identify and contrast types of heating systems by delivery method and fuel(s) used
3.  Identify and contrast types of hot water heating systems by type and fuel(s) used; plumbing systems: materials, red flags (lead, asbestos); Water and sewer supply –what kind and is it an issue?
4.  Identify structural elements in residential construction, including “fixes” which do not solve structural problems
5.  Identify exterior and interior building materials, and compare and contrast the pros and cons of these materials
6.  Identify the parts of an electrical system: service meter, circuit or fuse box, amperage, types of wiring and understand various “red flags” with respect to electrical systems
7.  Identify elements of a house which are typically replaced over the lifetime of the structure: roofs, windows, doors, kitchens and baths; understand and apply the terms functional and physical depreciation with respect to these elements