The premier source for home inspection news and information. Whether you're a homebuyer or a licensed home inspector, you'll find valuable insight on the world of home inspection training and competency on this blog.
What's the second largest cost of home ownership that is also the only major cost that can actually be reduced? If you answered Energy, you are right. With such a huge impact it makes on buying and owning a home, home inspectors around the country have been adding "Energy Inspector" to their title.
Energy Inspections can be performed right alongside traditional home inspections, adding only about 15 to 30 minutes to the time of a normal home inspection. Energy Inspection can also be added as a separate service. With the home inspection industry becoming more and more competitive, such a distinction provides you with a way to earn more money and stand out from your competition.
Energy Inspectors understand:
-How the house works as a system
-Principles of heat transfer and how they impact home energy performance
-How to produce a home energy analysis
-Where to find utility-sponsored rebates, financing, tax incentives and other ways to help pay for energy-efficient home improvements
With this knowledge comes an array of benefits. Home Inspectors who offer Energy Inspection:
-Generate higher fees per inspection
-Stand out from the competition
-Increase regular home inspection volume
-Create new income streams
-Appeal to higher margin clients
-Open up new market possibilities
Energy Inspection designations are offered by utility companies and other entities all over the country, broadening your business potential and helping open new doors for you as a Home Inspector.
As a professional Home Inspector, you rely on satisfied customers to keep your business going. One of the best ways to let them know you'll keep them satisfied is by assuring them up front, before your inspection is performed.
Here are four ways you can do this:
1. Provide Your Background, Experience, and Credentials
Customers are going to consider your inspection experience, including how many inspections you have performed, your certifications, licenses, memberships, and how long you have been in business. Why? Because all inspectors are not created equal. Extensive training in the art of inspection or other code knowledge goes a long way towards exhibiting you as a well-rounded inspector.
2. Have Errors & Omissions (E&O) Insurance
Errors and omissions insurance (hereinafter "E&O") is an important consideration. E&O may help resolve claims against an inspection, for items you may have missed during the inspection, after close of escrow.
E&O insurance is not required for inspectors and there is currently no reliable data on the percentage of inspectors who actually are insured. But consider what your potential customer might be thinking: An inspector who does not have E&O may have a broad range of reasons why they are not insured. E&O insurance sets you apart by displaying confidence in your work.
3. Use An Inspection Agreement
Today, most inspectors have their customers, your clients, sign inspection agreements prior to the inspection. These agreements detail the ground rules, the inspector's scope of work, and items outside of their scope. This provides your customer with the assurance that you'll talk straight and give them all the information they need once the inspection is performed.
4. Let the Customer Know You'll Be In Touch
Good follow-up and follow-through skills are essential when business relies so heavily on word of mouth. Not only is it important to keep in touch with your customer when there's good news, such as when the inspection passes with flying colors, but also when there is bad news. Hearing that the inspection revealed a defect can be a frightening moment to any home seller, as well as any home buyer, but that sets you apart as a reliable individual who conducts inspections with a keen eye. A smooth and simple callback procedure will calm nerves and will hopefully help facilitate any repairs that may be necessary.
With summer coming, the biggest home selling season will soon be upon us. This means buyers will be looking for deals, but not necessarily looking as thoroughly beyond the price as they probably should. Most buyers would rather not see any problems, especially if they think they're getting a great price.
The easiest problem to avoid in a home is the plumbing. Buyers in love with the look and the price might not even look under the cabinet. Little do they realize that their price might go up significantly if there's a problem they don't find.
This is another area of protection home inspectors provide for buyers. What should you be looking for when performing your inspection of a home's plumbing?
-Examine all faucets to make sure none drip.
-Open cabinet doors and check under sinks for leaks.
-Check the water supply valves. Turn these on and off to test for leaks.
-Look for rust and corrosion on all plumbing fixtures.
-Flush the toilet to see that it functions efficiently, doesn't continue running, and refills properly.
-Check the base of the toilet for water damage or soft floors.
-Run the garbage disposal and dishwasher to check for proper function.
Remembering these, and other things to look for from your home inspection training, will make your services invaluable to homeowners and potential homeowners.
Allied Schools has launched a new home inspection career website to provide students and home inspectors with relevant and useful information. The site is designed to provide users with everything they need in one convenient place. They can start or further their career with detailed course content, newsworthy home inspection information, and more.
Laguna Hills, CA (Allied Home Inspection School) May 4th, 2007 - Allied Schools has created a new website at www.homeinspectioncourse.com to help more people learn about and take advantage of the career potential of home inspection. With a strong demand for home inspectors continuing well into the next decade, a good education is essential. Allied has created this website to answer all the questions someone interested in home inspection might have while also providing a gateway into a home inspection career.
The new website offers easy access to the benefits of an online education and a new career in home inspection. All of the course material is covered along with information about how the course works. A sample of our exclusive Real Homes - Real Inspections video is available from the site as well. You can even enter a drawing for the chance to win a free home inspection course!
"Home inspection is going to be one of the top career choices in the upcoming years," said George Achenbach, president of Allied Schools. "We want to provide every student with the ability to train online for a prosperous career in home inspection."
The site is filled with information for people looking into a career in home inspection. From an interactive FAQ that provides answers to common questions to a home inspection blog, updated every week, the website is filled with useful information. For those researching Allied's course, a large selection of testimonials is also provided.
With over 14 years of providing solid education that leads to careers, along with national accreditation by the Distance Education and Training Council, Allied prides itself on opening doorways to a better life. As the largest provider of real estate education, Allied sees this new website as a resource for all people looking for home inspection training.
At Allied, we are aware that this is about more than just an education; this is your career. With that in mind, we have also included an Alumni Rewards program. The Alumni Rewards program includes discounts on important, professional association memberships, materials, software, and supplies you'll need as a professional. This one-of-a-kind program is included with the course so there are no additional fees to pay.
No tool is of any use if it's too expensive. That's why Allied provides Zero Down Financing so you can afford the education you want. By offering financial assistance with deferred payments and low interest rates, Allied can help you get started on a new career.
To learn more about Allied Schools' Home Inspection course, please visit http://www.homeinspectioncourse.com/ or call (888) 925-2108 to speak with an admissions representative.
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No home inspection is complete without a thorough testing for Radon gas. And this doesn't just benefit the buyer, it can benefit anyone living in a home, whether they're selling or not.
Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is formed through the natural decay of uranium in soil, rocks and ground water. Radon from the soil enters into a home through small openings such as: cracks in concrete, floor drains, wall/floor joints in basements, and the pores in hollow block walls.
Because it's a heavy gas, radon can generally be detected in the areas of a home closest to the ground, decreasing as you move higher up within the home. Testing is the only means to determine whether or not a home contains a high level of radon. Since homes near each other may have differing levels of radon, buyers shouldn't rely on radon results taken in other homes within the neighborhood to estimate the radon level of a home. While radon may be more or less common from one area to another, any home may have a high level of radon.
Radon is a real health risk. Prolonged exposure could lead to an increased risk of developing lung cancer. Radon gas releases radioactive particles that circulate in the air and, as you breathe these particles, they can become trapped in your lungs and damage lung tissue. This damage can cause lung cancer
As you can probably see, radon testing isn't just important to a buyer. And because home owners can have an inspection performed (with the proper radon-testing kits) that is far more thorough than the short-term testing that can be performed during the real estate transaction, it can be equally as important to a home owner as well.
After gaining the education you need to begin working as a home inspector, you might find a whole lot of home inspectors already out there. Every year, the number of trained home inspectors increases. Last year, the state of Illinois alone experienced an increase of nearly 3,000 home inspectors from less than 500 the year before.
While the first instinct someone might have when faced with increasing competition is to cut their prices, the results can work against you. Cutting your prices means more work for less pay. More importantly, it could make you appear cut-rate in a field where quality is of far greater importance.
What can you do to stand apart from other home inspectors and get yourself noticed?
One of the best ways of standing out from the crowd is to form relationships with professional, home inspection organizations. Joining a home inspection association gives you the advantage of a professional stamp of approval on the quality of your work. There are several associations with great reputations who represent home inspection:
- InterNACHI (International Association of Certified Home Inspectors): InterNACHI is the world's largest, most elite non-profit inspection association. Their inspectors have all successfully passed InterNACHI's Inspector Examination, adhere to Standards of Practice, abide by a Code of Ethics, and are InterNACHI Certified
- HIF (Housing Inspection Foundation): An organization of professionals dedicated to the promotion and development of home inspection through information, education, standards, ethics, and professional recognition, HIF is an excellent organization to network with licensed home inspectors.
- NAHI (National Association of Home Inspectors): The mission of the National Association of Home Inspectors is to promote excellence and professionalism in the home inspection industry, in addition to providing standards of practice and a code of ethics for home inspectors in the USA. NAHI home inspectors must meet strict membership requirements and are held to the highest standards of practice in the home inspector industry.
- ASHI (Association of Home Inspectors): ASHI has a strong network of experienced individuals with their home inspection license. ASHI builds customer awareness of the importance of a quality home inspection and enhances the professionalism of home inspectors.
Trained home inspectors will tell you that the three problems most houses run into are: water, water and water. From pipes to roofs, it's an ongoing concern, and that's not even addressing the worst culprit, the leaky basement.
Wet basements are unusable and unsafe, weakening foundations and creating a breeding ground for toxic mold. But the good news is they can be easily detected and prevented.
As a home inspector, you should know the things to look for when it comes to basements and foundations. Roof drainage is, by far, your biggest concern. Properly designed rain gutters should have at least once downspout for every 600-800 square feet of roof surface. Gutters should be cleaned; dirty ones overflow directly down near the foundation and not away from it. Make sure downspouts discharge 4-6 feet from the foundation, otherwise it could be blasting the basement with water.
Next to gutter problems, the slope of the soil around the home can also cause problems. The soil should slope away to keep water from collecting near the foundation. The angle and type of soil are also important. It should slope down six inches over the first four feet from the foundation. It can be graded more gradually afterwards but should never allow water to run back in the direction of the home.
Landscape treatments that hold soil to the house can also create problems. Although a brick or stone edging around a garden adjacent to the foundation may look attractive, it can be preventing drainage away from the foundation, increasing your risk of flooding.
These tips could save a buyer a bundle in repair costs or a seller from reducing the value of their home.
Home Sellers know that when Buyers look at their house, they're looking for flaws. Leaky faucets. Loose wiring. Poorly hung doors. When Home Buyers see such flaws, they go into "what else is wrong" mode, looking for more defects so they can knock down the price. Good Home Sellers know that ignoring these details can result in long waits without an offer or offers that come in low. A trained home inspector can point out just such details for them.
Here are a few things to look out for:
- No Seller wants their home to be a fixer-upper. A home inspector can point out such flaws as cracking paint, loose gutters, and roofing issues. These flaws should be brought to the Seller's attention so the outside of the house can reflect the price being asked.
- First impressions last. When a Buyer walks through the home, they don't want to see damaged flooring, peeling wallpaper, cracked drywall or safety hazards. A trained home inspector can find these issues and bring them to the Seller's attention before a Buyer walks through the house.
- Counter offer. People always look under the counters. They want to make sure that appliances, wiring, plumbing, and general construction is in good order. Spotting such issues before anyone else looks is a service the trained home inspector excels in providing.
- No dirty laundry. Laundry rooms and garages are often underlooked by Sellers but never by Buyers. The pitfalls here for incorrect wiring, poorly installed appliances, inadequate lighting, and general condition are many and a good Seller doesn't want to wait for a Buyer to spot them. It's better to have a trained home inspector make a complete inspection.
Remember, Buyers sometimes bring along an extra set of eyes and will often require a complete home inspection before they buy. A Seller can benefit just as much from a quality home inspection.
