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.
Home inspection plays a very important role in the real estate process. When people buy or sell a home, they rely on a home inspector to provide an accurate and reliable inspection of a property. A home inspector tells them about the condition of the home and helps them avoid buying a house that needs major repairs. It is the perfect way to get an in-depth and impartial opinion of their next home… before they buy it.
The main purpose of the home inspector is to provide an objective viewpoint on the condition of a specific home at the time of inspection. The inspector does not evaluate the cost or value of the property, but provides a close examination of the following:
- Structural Components: Foundations, floors and walls.
- Exterior Components: Siding paint, windows, decks, garage doors, etc.
- Roofing: Coverings, flashings, chimneys, etc.
- Plumbing: Piping, fixtures, faucets, water heating and fuel storage systems, etc.
- Electrical: Wiring, main service panels, conductors, switches, receptacles, etc.
- Heating: Equipment, safety controls, distribution systems, chimneys, etc.
- Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps: Cooling and air-handling equipment, controls and ducting, etc.
- Interior: Partitions, ceilings, floors, railings, doors and windows, etc.
- Insulation and Ventilation: Attics, walls, floors, foundations, kitchen and bathrooms, etc.
A home inspector will additionally perform the following services (sometimes for an extra fee): mold sampling, radon testing, asbestos evaluation, pests/wood destroying organisms, carbon monoxide testing, lead testing, and more.
There are three steps involved with each inspection. First, the house inspector will evaluate the physical condition of a property, including the structure, construction and mechanical systems. Second, he or she will identify the items that should be repaired or replaced. Third, he or she will estimate the remaining useful life of the major systems (such as electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning), equipment, structure, and finishes.)
Although home inspections are primarily visual, an inspector may use a tape measure, survey instruments, metering devices, and other equipment, such as concrete strength measurer, to aid in his or her inspection. The house inspector will keep a log of their work, take photographs, and file a formal report. The inspection usually takes two or three hours (depending on the age and size of the home).
To become a home inspector , individuals need to enroll in an accredited home inspection school. This will provide them with comprehensive and hands-on training in all aspects of a home inspection career. It will teach them exactly what to look for during an inspection, and provide them with the skills to perform a quality service. They will also know how to prepare an informative and accurate home inspection report.
Home inspection is an essential part of real estate - without it, people wouldn't know the condition of a house before they purchased it. Most people don't have the ability or know-how to inspect all aspects of a property themselves - they need knowledge of plumbing, electrical and ventilation and much more. A trained home inspector can easily step into this role and provide an accurate reporting of the condition of a home and protect the interests of the home buyer.
Labels: accredited home inspection school, home inspection, home inspection school, home inspection training, home inspector
We are careful when we choose a car mechanic or a CPA, but how careful are we when choosing a home inspector? While it's possible to recover from a botched car repair job or an IRS audit, purchasing a home with serious defects can impact your bottom line for years to come.
The Dallas Morning News recently published a great checklist for people to follow when evaluating a home inspector. The checklist gets right to the heart of choosing a quality, experienced home inspector.
The home inspector checklist includes:
Locating the right person: word of mouth information is always the best way of learning about great professionals -- ask your friends and family about good home inspectors; you should also ask your real agent if they can recommend a particular home inspector.
Research: Make sure that the home inspector has a track record of professional service. One place to research their professional history is at the Better Business Bureau -- they can tell you about any past complaints against the inspector. Some states require a home inspector to have a license; if your state requires a license, ask for the inspector's license number and then check with the state to see if it's valid.
Education and training: You want someone who has received a quality home inspection education. Ask them where they went to school and what kinds of certificates the have, along with questions about the nature of their home inspection experience.
Inspection scope: Ask the home inspector what parts of the home he/she will inspect: ask about the roof, the swimming pool and appliances, or anything else you're concerned about or would like to see addressed.
Checklist sample: Ask to see a sample of the home inspection checklist that he/she will use when going through the home. See whether it is a thorough form that will allow the inspector to write up a detailed report or if it a simple, amateur form.
The final report: Find out how the inspector will deliver the final report to you. Will it be emailed, faxed or mailed? Ask if the report will include photographs of the home's defects.
References: There's nothing like talking to an old customer to get a sense of what kind of home inspector the person is. A professional home inspector should be willing to share a list of former customers with you.
Insurance: Sometimes mistakes happen, so home inspectors may have E&O (errors and omissions) insurance, which will help pay for any liability issues that arise as a result of the inspection.
Money: Price, of course, is important. You probably pay a little extra when hiring a car mechanic or a CPA -- use the same approach with a home inspector. If you choose a "cheap" home inspector, you might just get what you pay for.
Customers, who are curious what home inspectors study when they are training, can search the Internet for 'home inspection school' and then scan through the sites to learn about the kinds of training that schools require of inspection students.
Labels: home inspection education, home inspection school, home inspector, home inspector checklist
Laguna Hills, Calif. - Nov. 14, 2007 - The International Association of Certified Inspectors (InterNACHI) has partnered with Allied Home Inspection School to create a library of home inspection career resource articles on its website www.nachi.org.
The Allied Home Inspection Library contains articles on skills, home inspection training and industry developments that affect both veteran certified home inspectors as well as individuals considering home inspection as a career.
"We're honored to team up with such a respected home inspection association like InterNACHI," said George Achenbach, president of Allied Home Inspection School. "Real estate inspection is a dynamic and important industry and we're pleased we can contribute resources to help those in and around the industry."
InterNACHI Founder and Director of Public Relations, Nick Gromicko, echoed Achenbach's comments: "At InterNACHI our focus is on improving the professionalism and expertise of home inspectors. Allied Home Inspection offers quality home inspection training that demonstrates their commitment to the industry. We believe the Library will be an excellent resource for inspectors."
The Library is scheduled to be updated weekly and become an important resource for both InterNACHI members and non-members alike. Two examples of the initial offerings in the Library include: Home Inspectors and E&O Insurance and What Homebuyers Should Expect from a Home Inspector.
In addition to the Allied Home Inspection Library, InterNACHI and Allied have been working together for some time to help new home inspectors get a foothold in the industry. InterNACHI offers graduates of Allied Home Inspection School a one-year complimentary membership to InterNACHI, which entitles them to a host of benefits including discounts on Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance and access to group health coverage, to name just two.
The Allied Home Inspection Library on InterNACHI's site can be found at www.nachi.org/alliedlibrary.htm. For more information on Allied Home Inspection School, visit us online or call (888) 925-2108 to speak with an admissions representative.
Labels: home inspection, home inspection school, home inspector school, Press Release
Adjustments in the real estate market are a fact of life. Despite a sluggish market, however, the National Association of Realtors projects that 5.9 million houses will be sold this year. In this business climate, certified home inspectors with quality house inspection training can get ahead by promoting their educational credentials to clients.
Home buyers and sellers are choosing licensed home inspectors carefully these days - they'll only work with the best. A professional home inspector class puts you head and shoulders above your competitors. It's important to realize that home buyers and sellers need the objective evaluation of a licensed home inspector now more than ever. The professional judgment of a well-trained certified home inspector helps all parties feel at ease during market adjustments. After you receive your home inspection license, you will be a crucial part of every home sale.
It's important to understand that all home inspection schools are not the same. The following are a few things to look for when choosing a distance learning school:
- Accreditation - home inspection schools should be accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC)
- Live Student Support - students should be able to pick up the phone and talk to an education support representative when they have a question
- Job Placement - good schools help you get job leads, work on your resume with you and prep you for job interviews
- Industry Connections - a relationship with the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI) is significant
Once you've located a good online school, make sure the house inspector school has the following:
- Instruction on important topics like mold, radon and termites
- Detailed lessons on writing a home inspection report
- Information on how to start a home inspection business once you receive your training
Becoming a home inspector means you'll eventually be a house inspection specialist. Remember, when people are concerned about something - they bring in an expert. You can be that expert!
Labels: home inspection school, home inspection training, home inspector school, home inspector training
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
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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Labels: Allied Home Inspection School, home inspection school, home inspector school
