Do You Earn Rewards on a Home Inspection or Appraisal?
How these services code
A home inspector or appraiser rings up under a professional-services category code, outside the usual bonus buckets, so most cards earn their base rate when you pay directly. These are one-time costs during a home purchase, so the earning is modest, but every bit helps on a large transaction. The category logic is in merchant category codes explained.
What you can and cannot charge
You can usually put a home inspection on a card if you hire the inspector directly. An appraisal ordered through your lender, though, is often rolled into closing costs, which are typically paid by wire or certified funds rather than a card, so those earn nothing. Ask whether each service can be paid directly by card.
The best card for home-buying services
For services you can charge, a strong flat-rate card earns the most, and stacking several inspection and moving costs can even help toward a welcome bonus during a move. Run your spending through the credit card rewards calculator to find the best base-return card, and see options in best cash back cards.
Frequently asked questions
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