Rafael Cordero, a former internet technology project manager, has embraced a second career as owner of a Pillar to Post Home Inspectors franchise. Cordero, who owns five properties that contain 11 rental units, had previously indulged his interest in real estate as a side job.
The Cranston resident, 42, is bilingual and estimates that 80 percent of his home inspection business is derived from Spanish-speaking clients. Because of the age of the Rhode Island homes, he said many houses still have pre-World War II knob-and-tube electrical installations. And some still carry a current, unbeknownst to the owners. He spoke to the Providence Business News about the home inspection business.
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PBN: Why did you decide to purchase a franchise in home inspection?
CORDERO: I have multiple properties. My plan was always to shift to something with properties because I’m very passionate about them. I am still getting offers to have me come back [to computer information systems], but that’s not what made me happy. What makes me happy is working with real estate. Home inspection was one of the key ways. It allows me to see through the eyes of a buyer.
PBN: How were you trained to do home inspections?
CORDERO: Through Pillar to Post, we get mentorship and training and two weeks at their home base in Toronto. We get mentorship here locally as well.
PBN: Some inspectors are more thorough than others. Should the person who is buying the home always attend the inspection?
CORDERO: You need to find someone who is trustworthy. It is preferable to be there. If you go with Pillar to Post, me or another franchisee, we will do the same job whether you are there or not. We have a higher authority we have to respond to as well, which is the franchiser, so we don’t lose our certification and our licensing through them. I’m an honest person, but it’s nice to have … something that backs up what I’m saying. If you can be there, we prefer it, because you can ask us questions and we can explain, right there.
PBN: It’s a seller’s market. Some homes are selling without a home inspection. Is that ever a good idea?
CORDERO: I wouldn’t think so. You can get a lot of surprises. I just went into a home inspection last week. The buyer’s agent was saying, ‘Oh, you should be able to do this quickly. It’s a renovated home. Everything is brand-new. When I got there … there were so many deficiencies in the house. There were leaks in two of the bathrooms. I run the water for a long time. Some home inspectors turn on the water for five seconds. I turn it on and walk away. Come back 10 minutes later, and there is water flowing down the wall to the floor. Everything is brand-new, but it wasn’t done properly.
PBN: You are fluent in English and Spanish. How big of a market is the Spanish-speaking market?
CORDERO: I’m getting maybe 80 percent of my market coming from the Spanish-speaking market. They are grateful I can do it in Spanish. Some of the Realtors feel the same way. It’s helpful for them because they do not have to translate, bit for bit. And they’re not on the hook and liable for a good inspection but a bad translation, with the buyer not understanding the deficiencies. A lot of them are first-generation. They have every right to buy a home and be aware of the health of the home, just like anyone else.
Mary MacDonald is a staff writer for the PBN. Contact her at macdonald@pbn.com.
