The premier source for home inspector 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.
Just like accents, cooking and sports loyalties, common home inspection defects vary by region across the country. Jennifer G. Prokopy in the Jan. 2008 edition of the ASHI Reporter writes about the local inspection variances that keep certified home inspectors from Seattle to Key West on their toes during a home inspection career.
Here's some common things to look out for by region (the list is by no means exhaustive):
Northeast
Damaged roof trusses and I-Joists
Clogged HVAC systems
Ancient chimneys
Poorly installed siding and trim
Southeast
Roofs (damaged from sun and heat)
Termites
Issues with code authorities
Poor workmanship during the recent building boom
Midwest
Poor workmanship during the recent building boom
Moisture intrusion from poor roof jobs
Wood rot
Water in basements
Badly constructed decks
Northwest
Moisture intrusion
Poor drainage systems
Inadequate exterior grading
Wood destroying insects
Poor workmanship in general
Southwest
Improper flashing for shingle roofs
Poorly installed roof trusses (even on custom-built homes)
Electrical wiring issues
Certified home inspectors are certain to encounter regionally-specific defects as the progress through their careers. Yet Prokopy points out that home inspectors should always be ready for that new, surprising deficiency that breaks the mold. One of the best ways to prepare for the unexpected is to receive home inspection training from a quality home inspection school. When you become a home inspector, you'll have to contend with both common and uncommon defects. Home inspector training prepares you for as many scenarios as possible so you'll be prepared for professional success.
Labels: Certified home inspectors, home inspection defect, Midwest home inspection, Northeast home inspection, Northwest home inspection, Southeast home inspection, Southwest home inspection
As the New Year begins, prognosticators are doing their best to get a handle on where the real estate market will end up in 2008. Yet the fact remains that millions of homes will be bought and sold regardless of where the market ends up. When you become a home inspector, you'll be part of a profession that simply doesn't stop during a market slowdown.
For certified home inspectors who own their own inspection businesses, knowledge of sound business practices are useful no matter what the market is doing. And graduates of accredited home inspection schools should expect their courses to include information on starting an inspection business.
In the November/December 2007 issue of The NAHI Forum, Rick Bunzel of Pacific Crest Inspection in Anacortes, Wash., outlined 10 ways that a home inspector can succeed when the real estate market is sluggish.
Mr. Bunzel's tips are an excellent resource for both veteran business owners, as well as recent graduates of home inspector training. The following is a summary of his business advice:
1.) The Market Doesn't Stop - Beware of negative media stories. Despite slowdowns, buyers are still making offers on homes.
2.) Business Plan - Devise a business plan with a marketing component. Consult this plan as you move forward
3.) Time Management - Block out your time. Deal with certain aspects of the business at certain times each day.
4.) The Pitch - Develop a 90-second pitch that will sell realtors on your home inspection jobs.
5.) Rise Above the Pack - Market slowdowns make good home inspectors look even better. Home inspectors with poor training and even poorer skills won't last long.
6.) Know the Numbers - Hire a good accountant and stay out of the red!
7.) Optimism - Successful salespeople and businessmen stay clear of negative people.
8.) Get Mentored - Find a successful home inspector or realtor and pick their brain. Share your business plan with them; get professional feedback.
9.) Work/Life Balance - Schedule time for your family and friends. Slowdowns are an opportunity to have more time with loved ones.
10.) The Comback - The market will pick up; be ready!
Becoming a home inspector means that you'll have to be both a skilled certified home inspector and a competent business owner, but not to worry, an accredited home inspection course will prepare you to succeed.
Labels: Certified home inspectors, home inspection jobs, home inspector training, real estate home inspection
Insect infestations are a concern to all home buyers and sellers, which makes it something that certified home inspectors should know something about. And when it comes to house invaders, the termite is certainly the king of damage.
Each state has laws concerning the regulation of termite inspections.
On a home inspection report, you may be restricted only to the most general comments about termites; depending on where you live, you might have to call in a professional termite inspector. Before you get your real estate inspection career off the ground, check with local agencies to see what you can and can't say during a home inspection job regarding termites.
Despite that caveat, it's important that a licensed home inspector understands some of the habits of this pesky bug. There are thousands of termite species in the U.S., but we'll look at the characteristics of four termite species that can cause great problems in and around the home.
Subterranean Termites:
-Live underground in protected nests
-Resemble grains of rice
-Feed on wood
-Develop wings in the spring
-Dried insect wings are a sign of their presence
-Build tunnel systems
Drywood Termites:
-Create nests above ground
-Infest attic or high spot in home
-Don't require a water source
-Football-shaped pellets fall from nest
Dampwood Termites:
-Rarely found in the house
-Usually adjacent to house near moisture
-Do not construct tunnels
Formosan Termites:
-Mainly found in Texas and Louisiana
-Colony is usually larger than subterranean termite colonies
-Able to chew through metal and plastic to reach wood
There's nothing nice to say about termite infestation, but it's a reality that home inspectors will encounter time and time again. Professional home inspection training will certainly expose you to the general characteristics of termites and their ways, but it is each inspector's responsibility to know the applicable local laws regarding inspections and termites.
Labels: california home inspection, Certified home inspectors, home inspection training, home inspectors
It's not just the characters in The Wizard of Oz that must be on the look out for frightening animals - it's also certified home inspectors, and their watchfulness during a real estate inspection should also include insects.
Now it's probably an exaggeration to say that they must watch for animals and insects themselves, but more accurately the signs of their presence, which can point to serious infestation issues in the house. Solid home inspection training will introduce you to a wide range of varmints that can invade a house.
In terms of insect infestation, one of the most notorious offenders is the world-famous termite. There is so much to look at with termites, that we'll devote an entire future blog to the subject of termites, so we can do their mischief justice. For now, however, we'll just look at ants, beetles, bees and wasps.
Ants survive in a home when they find a source of moisture. Unlike termites, they don't eat wood, but often damage the house when building their nests. Little piles of sawdust-like material often point to a nearby nest. Many beetles are a problem too, because their larvae can damage wood; tiny holes in wood are a good indication that beetles are near.
Bees often dig into siding or trim to lay their eggs, whereas yellow jackets build a paper-Mache like nest in the nooks and crannies of the house. The safest way to handle yellow jackets is to spray the nest at night when the colony is dormant.
Homes were meant men, not mice, so inspectors should look for a trail of black droppings, which would indicate mice activity. Rats are a bit more serious because of they are often carriers of disease - rat holes are generally about an inch in diameter. When you become a home inspector you will enter the house like a detective, looking for clues of deficiencies in the house.
Licensed home inspectors must also look for signs of flying creatures, like bats and birds, who may have moved in without the owner's permission. Bats often make themselves at home in attics, and their droppings can create a real mess. Birds are also identified by droppings in the house, and are a more serious problem because of their noise and the possible diseases they bring with them.
When researching home inspection schools, examine their course materials closely and see whether they dedicate a part of the course to helping you find the signs of bats, rats and wasps, oh my!
Labels: Certified home inspectors, home inspection, home inspector
You've walked on them your whole life, but when you become a home inspector, you'll have to examine a floor with a whole new critical eye - determining whether the structure is sound or not. First-rate home inspection training will prepare you to inspect, not only with your head, but with your feet.
If possible, get underneath the floor to have a more thorough look at the structure. The two biggest issues to gauge are sloping and uneven floors. Certified home inspectors don't have their heads in the clouds - they're using all their senses to perform a super home inspection job. Sloping floors usually go in one direction and should be noted in an inspection report. Uneven floors often have hollows in them, where the floor sags between joists. Sagging can also be observed on a larger scale when heavy objects, like appliances, weigh down a portion of the floor.
Then there are squeaky floors, which may give "character" to a house, but licensed home inspectors need to make note of such floor noise. The problem is often the result of a weak connection between the joists and the sub flooring.
The next step is to inspect the floor covering, which may be wood finish flooring, flooring tiles, carpeting, linoleum, etc. Like much of your home inspection, water stains and water damage are opponents to look out for. It's extremely important to look for rotting wood, particularly in areas of the kitchen and bathroom. Oftentimes a firm foot in a suspect area will tell you all you need to know. When you get your home inspection license, you'll soon gather on-the-job experience that will prove invaluable as your career unfolds.
As you walk the floors of a house, always be on the look out for tripping hazards; look for floor covering that is curved, sticking up or detached in some way. Inspect carpets carefully to see that they are securely in place and not bunching up. When it comes to wood floors, check for buckled floor boards. If you're examining tile, then inspect the grout and see if it's keeping things together.
Real estate inspection is not a job, as much as it is a craft. If you view your home inspection report as the sum total of your skills, patience and knowledge, you're bound to work more like an artist than anything else. And so if Michelangelo could work artistic wonders on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, then surely home inspectors can bring the same attention to detail to the floors they step on each day.
Labels: Certified home inspectors, home inspection training, home inspector training, real estate home inspection
Anyone researching the potential of a home inspection career on the Internet has probably come across some mention of E&O Insurance. And while some might have no idea what E&O insurance is all about, others may think of it solely as something doctors need to combat malpractice suits. The truth is that certified home inspectors need E&O insurance as much as any other professional.
So what exactly is E&O insurance? It stands for errors and omissions insurance, and it covers home inspectors when they are accused of doing a job poorly or not delivering expected results. If a client brings you into court, E&O insurance will handle the legal fees as well as any settlement that is paid out. A legal suit can easily destroy a home inspection business not covered by E&O insurance; astronomical defense fees, coupled with a negative settlement, may be impossible for an independent business to overcome.
Now you may be saying, what if I get excellent home inspection training, learn my profession well and handle each home inspection job with professionalism and care - why do I need E&O insurance? First-class training is good, but you are a card-carrying member of the human race, and that means you will make mistakes. Does it mean your mistakes during a real estate inspection will lead to legal allegations? Not necessarily, but why take the chance?
It's also important to realize that your general liability insurance doesn't cover errors and omissions on your home inspection report - that's what E&O, or professional liability insurance, is there to take care of.
Remember, E&O insurance rates for home inspectors have been steadily rising, so it's important you research several insurance carriers before making a decision. It's also important to make sure that the language in the policy addresses the specific exposure your business may face. Many professional home inspection associations offer discounted rates on E&O insurance.
If you become a home inspector who works for himself, you will have to inspect more than just faucets and chimneys, you'll have to look into insurance coverage the way any business owner would. But not to worry, if you rely on your home inspection courses, industry associations and make yourself a true student of the profession, by visiting home inspection blogs and websites, you should be able to get up to speed with E&O insurance.
Labels: Certified home inspectors, home inspection career, home inspector
Part of the appeal of a home inspection career, arguably, is that certified home inspectors work independently without the nuisance of a boss "breathing down their neck." Although there is some truth to this, it is important that home inspectors listen to their conscience and live by the Golden Rule of treating others (and their property) as they would expect to be treated. This is all the more important, of course, when no one in the house is watching them.
In our own homes, we wouldn't think of tracking mud across the living room carpet or leaving windows open despite a forecast of rain. Licensed home inspectors need to treat each house, first and foremost, as someone's home. This isn't to suggest that there is an epidemic of thoughtless, cavalier home inspectors in America, but sometimes inspectors get busy, and the little courtesies slip.
Bob Golden, CRI, of Safeguard Home Inspection in Roswell, Ga., wrote on this topic in the Sept./Oct. issue of the National Association of Home Inspector's (NAHI) magazine NAHI Forum. He wrote about his practice of checking for anti-tip brackets behind ovens. The process involves opening the oven door and tilting the oven forward with a push from the back. Recently, a homeowner spotted Golden during an inspection and become angry, mistakenly thinking he was mistreating the appliance. The incident reminded Golden that certified home inspectors must go to great lengths to make sure their inspections demonstrate respect for private property.
Golden noted his way of conducting respectful home inspections: "I am so mindful of being careful with a homeowner's property that I make an imaginative presumption that my actions are being monitored by a hidden camera. I always think to myself: How would this look if I were being watched right now?"
In addition to the Golden Rule, individuals considering a home inspection school should carefully research their options online. Potential home inspection students should also become frequent visitors to industry trade group websites like NAHI and the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI). Armed with home inspector training, knowledge of the Golden Rule and the resources of home inspection trade groups, how can anyone go wrong?
Labels: california home inspection, Certified home inspectors, home inspection, home inspection career
New home sale figures released from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) have further confirmed that the U.S. housing market is undergoing a sharp adjustment. And while this comes with a host of complications, it presents opportunities not just for careful homebuyers, but also for individuals thinking of a real estate career, particularly for licensed home inspectors.
The NAR reported that existing homes sales in August dropped 12% compared to 2006. In the West, home sales were down an eye opening 21% compared to the previous year. Make no mistake about it, these numbers aren't promising, but as Wall Street traders have known for years - there are opportunities for people who can spot potential in sluggish times.
Even people in Southern California with short memories, recall the massive downturn in the area's housing market in the mid-1990s. As we all know, the market rebounded and homeowners in the Los Angeles area (as well as around much of the country) built up impressive equity in their houses. And while homeowners benefited, so did real estate agents, brokers, real estate appraisers and licensed home inspectors. Allied Real Estate School offers online training for real estate agents and brokers.
The real estate cycle is often compared to peaks and valleys. While we are now in the valley of the housing market, people considering a real estate career can receive their training and get ready to step out onto the peak when home sales come around again. And for certified home inspectors, in particular, their home inspection training and services will still be in demand even if the market is slow to recover; while money is tight, buyers and sellers will look to a quality home inspection job as a form of security.
The fact still remains that millions of homes are bought and sold each year. As the market slips, some real estate agents and licensed home inspectors will exit the business altogether: returning to the steady nine-to-five world or retraining for a new career. When the market rebounds, it will open more career positions in the real estate industry.
Individuals who want to become a home inspector should make sure that the home inspection school they attend is accredited and associated with industry groups, such as the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI). There is no substitute for top-notch home inspection training.
Labels: become a home inspector, Certified home inspectors, home inspector, National Association of Realtors
Most of us don't spend much time thinking about the state of the doors and windows we use each day, but certified home inspectors don't have that luxury. Their mission is to focus their eyes beyond the obvious and the ordinary and see with eyes honed by home inspection training.
One truism of evaluating doors is that they often give licensed home inspectors a good indication of the overall condition of the house. If a door isn't fitting properly into its frame, it could point to a settling foundation causing the doorframe to shift. A quality home inspection job involves taking the time to check the condition of each door in the house.
These days a licensed home inspector will evaluate doors made of wood, metal or vinyl, with some of them featuring glass panes mounted into the structure of the doors. Reportable deficiencies include items such as damaged weather stripping, air and water leaks or deteriorating trim, flashings or stills. Other issues to look for are doors that don't lock correctly or close without being touched. Allied School's website: www.homeinspectioncourse.com is an excellent resource for home inspection articles and news.
If the eyes are the windows of the soul, then it's fair to say that windows are the eyes of the house. Whereas doors differ somewhat in their material construction, windows are primarily categorized by their use and movement. Becoming a home inspector means you'll identify single-hung, double-hung, casement (open outward like a door), awning and hopper windows, to name the most common.
Real estate inspectors should also understand that many windows have a safety glazing coating the glass. Safety glazing is any substance applied to the glass that reduces the chance of injury if it is broken. It's normally found in places where children, or the elderly, might fall against glass and hurt themselves.
You'll find glazing on sliding glass doors, shower doors and storm windows. Licensed home inspectors may also find security bars (burglar bars) built over the exterior side of the window. All security bars must have a quick-release mechanism that allows residents to exit through the window in case of a fire. A real estate inspection of house windows should note broken glass, damaged window sills or deficient safety glazing, for example.
For the certified home inspectors, windows and doors aren't just something to walk through or look through, but a significant area of the house where their expertise, training and experience is critically applied. When choosing a home inspection course online, make sure the school is accredited, affiliated with industry trade groups and offers live student support.
Labels: Certified home inspectors, home inspection training, home inspector, real estate home inspection
There's a lot of talk about the real estate market these days, but it's important to understand that despite slowdowns, millions of homes will be bought and sold. One might even say that it's during rough times that home inspection jobs become even more important.
Home buyers who buy in a soft market understand there are good deals to be had. Now whether these folks are looking for an investment or a home, they'll need the reassurance of a quality real estate inspection to put their mind at ease.
And how does a home inspection help buyers during a slump in the market? The results of a home inspection report will help buyers negotiate for a better price or, if the deficiencies are extensive, to move on to another property. Certified home inspectors must realize that their services are more valuable now than ever.
On the seller's side, a slowdown presents obvious challenges. As houses sit on the market longer, there is glut of properties and too few buyers. Sellers often feel a tremendous amount of pressure to lower their asking prices. This is where the overlooked pre-marketing home inspection comes into play. A graduate of an accredited home inspection school shouldn't forget to promote this service to sellers.
Home buyers who have their home inspected before they put it on the market, will gain great insight into the true value of their property. If there are significant deficiencies, they can address them before buyers see the property, plus they can also sell the house as-is, by disclosing what the licensed home inspector discovered.
If a seller has a certain price in mind, and the home inspector doesn't turn up any major deficiencies, the home inspection report will bolster their claim to a certain price, no matter the fluctuations of the market. People considering a home inspection career should understand that they can market their services whether the real estate market is up or down.
The bottom line is that in a sluggish market, both home buyers and sellers want to know that they've made the best possible deal all things considered. A licensed home inspector provides an objective evaluation about the property, which normally leads to more informed decisions. And information is the key when people are making one of the most important investments of their lives.
Labels: Certified home inspectors, home inspection, home inspection school
There are very few people that dislike a fireplace. In the "olden" days, a fireplace provided dinner, warmth and a spot for the family to gather. And even today, with more computers and televisions in the house than people, fireplaces still command a special place in our hearts. For certified home inspectors, this means they better know their way around the hearth.
A home inspection training course will teach you many things about inspecting the fireplace, but the first item on any checklist is the damper. Make sure it opens and closes effectively. You then want to inspect the hearth extension to see if it's large enough to collect embers that may pop from the fire.
A certified home inspector's report will also note any creosote buildup in the firebox, visible smoke, as well as the integrity of the lintel (the stone/brick beam perched across the top of the fireplace). According to the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors, a licensed home inspector isn't required, however, to:
- examine the flue or vent system
- inspect the interior of chimneys, fire doors, screens, seals or gaskets
- determine the need for a chimney sweep
- move fireplace inserts, stoves or firebox contents
It's also important to keep in mind that you may even encounter a wood burning stove occupying the fireplace. A wood stove is an important heating source for many homes in rural areas, but keep in mind that many of them are installed by owners who have no house inspector training. Make sure the clearance between the stove and surrounding materials is regulation.
In the end, no matter how cozy it is by the fireplace, you've got to move onto the other parts of the house. A home inspection career will train you to be at ease inspecting each part of the house, from the basement all the way up to the roof.
Labels: Certified home inspectors, home inspection training, home inspector's report, inspecting the fireplace, Licensed Home Inspectors
