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.
Curious about a career in home inspection, but worried about the market? Well, consider this - the real estate market is on a gradual upswing and there is a marked increase in buyer activity. Now is the perfect time to train for a career as a professional home inspector.
Opportunity is the home inspection field is prevalent. Just look at these projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):
- Employment of construction and building inspectors is expected to grow by 18% during the 2006-2016 decade
- About 1 in 10 construction and building inspectors are self-employed
- Inspectors should experience faster than average employment growth
- The middle 50 percent earn between $36,610 and $58,780
Buying a home is one of the most important decisions a person will ever make during their lifetime. And throughout the home purchasing process, the majority of buyers experience emotions that range from excitement to fear. As a home inspector, you provide these buyers with the feedback they need to make informed decisions – whether it's peace-of-mind or a disappointing discovery.
There's no doubt - home inspection is an important career that presents daily challenges. And it's the kind of job you can be proud to have. With the knowledge you gain from a home inspection school, you can play a vital role in this exciting process while helping clients make a smart investment in their home, as well as their future.
Do you like perks? Because, a home inspection career has some major benefits. For example, get some field experience under your belt, and you can take the self-employed route by starting your own home inspection business. Make your own schedule, choose your own jobs and be your own boss.
Plus, today's economic demands present home inspectors with some major marketing advantages. Consider President Obama's $150 billion dollar initiative to implement renewable energy programs nationwide. As a home inspector, you can specialize in energy-efficient properties and target the growing number of green-minded consumers and businesses.
Does a career in home inspection sound appealing? Prepare yourself with home inspection education. If you value flexibility in your training, check out online schools that offer 100% online home inspection courses. You’ll be on your way to a new, rewarding career in the home inspector industry in no time.
Labels: accredited home inspection, building inspectors, home inspection training
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
Ah...the do-it-yourselfer age! It has given us Home Depot, Bob Villa and (unfortunately) the botched handyman project! If there is one common pastime all home inspectors love, it would have to be sharing home inspection photos of bizarre, and sometimes downright dangerous, problems they come across during a real estate inspection.
Home inspection websites and journals never fail to publish humorous photos from their home inspection contributors. And just as no two snowflakes are alike; it seems the same holds true for any two messed-up home improvement jobs. When you become a home inspector, expect you'll come across a few memorable home owner quick-fixes by.
This Old House's website has gotten into the act as well, publishing 23 gems on their website. Without giving away too many surprises, these photos will show you how a radiator hose from a 1945 Pontiac, a dead rodent and aluminum foil all factor into some funny photos. Click here to check them out.
Although it doesn't take too much expertise to see that something is wrong in extreme situations, most common home inspection problems aren't as easy to spot. And that's why a solid home inspection program is essential for anyone who wants to start a professional home inspection career. And these days you don't need to go much further than your laptop to get the necessary training, because online home inspection courses are just a mouse click away.
Starting a home inspection business will involve lots of serious steps on your part, but at least you know they'll be humorous moments when you can put your home inspection checklist down and have a laugh.
Labels: home inspection, home inspection business, home inspection training, home inspector, real estate
Legislation in
Allied Schools, www.homeinspectioncourse.com
Labels: home inspection courses, home inspection online school, home inspection training, home inspector, michigan home inspector
Honest mistakes happen regardless of a person's level of professionalism, training or good intentions. And certified home inspectors, like everyone else, must take the possibility of error into account every time they climb into their car and head to a new real estate inspection.
Understanding that lawsuits are commonplace these days, home inspectors should look closely at the benefits of Errors & Omissions insurance (E&O). E&O insurance is liability insurance that covers your company if a client claims that you did not live up to the terms of the business agreement.
Future home inspectors should realize that there's more to consider than just the nuts and bolts of a home inspection job when you undertake a home inspection career.
As home inspections become more common, clients increasingly expect home inspectors to go beyond their job description, acting as mold inspectors, building code experts or licensed contractors. A very simple and pain-free way for home inspectors to protect themselves from risk is the pre-inspection agreement, which lays out what you will and won't do during a home inspection.
Yet even a pre-inspection agreement won't cover a home inspector from a wide range of legal action - that's where E&O insurance comes in. It's more reasonable to believe that you might never get sued over a mistake, than to suggest that you and your inspectors won't ever commit a blunder on the job.
Home inspection business without E&O insurance can go belly up after a devastating lawsuit; clients can and do sue for millions of dollars if a home inspector overlooks something that later leads to trouble. A home inspection business with E&O insurance, however, will only pay the policy deductible, which may be the difference between spending a few thousand dollars and a bankrupt business.
People looking at home inspection training should inquire whether a prospective home inspection school has relationships with professional home inspection associations. Some schools offer waived or discounted membership fees to associations, many of which offer reduced rates on E&O insurance. Don't wait until it's too late to protect yourself and your business from a devastating lawsuit.
By Robert Fay, Allied Schools.
Labels: home inspection business, home inspection training, home inspector
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
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
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
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
The use of garages has evolved to the point where Americans view them as extensions of their home's living space. Take a peak in your neighbor's garage and you'll find gym equipment, pool tables, televisions, workbenches, washing machines, and of course, stacks of storage boxes. One of these days you might even see a car inside! Licensed home inspectors, however, are trained to look past the furnishings and see structure through the trees.
If a garage is attached to the house, the first order of business during a real estate home inspection is to verify that the wall separating it from the house is fire-rated. A certified home inspector should make sure there is at least half an inch of drywall or gypsum board in place. Some areas of the country may even have tougher standards. Becoming a home inspector means you must find out about the particular standards of your area!
Inspecting a garage is a great chance to see exposed wood framing. A certified home inspector can check bracing, sill plates and the bolts that hold the framing to the concrete foundation. Reportable deficiencies include racking or twisting of the framing and insect-damaged wood from termites, for example. Home inspection training courses will provide you with all the creepy details concerning termite infestation.
If there is a door that connects the garage to the house, this is another key area for a real estate home inspection. This door must be fire-resistant, which means that it is sealed with weather stripping to prevent fire and toxic smoke from seeping into the living quarters of the house. The door shouldn't have any holes or glass parts, so it will be able to withstand the heat of a fire for at least 20 minutes. Check with your local fire department for specific requirements.
Finally we have the labor saving device known as the automatic garage door opener. With all its moving parts, there is much a licensed home inspector has to be on the lookout for. One note of importance is that the door opener's motor must be plugged into a wall outlet, and not an extension cord. One significant safety feature of an automatic garage door opener is the automatic reversing function. When the door is descending, it will reverse directions and begin moving up if it hits something. Home inspectors must determine if the auto-reverse function is working according to the book.
Certified home inspectors should understand that by venturing into the garages of America, they will encounter dusty copies of National Geographic magazine, turntables that haven't worked since 1966, shelves of Mason jars, and maybe even an automobile or two. Have no fear, however, because your home inspection training will prepare you to step into that garage with confidence and inspect it by the numbers.
Labels: home inspection training, real estate home inspection
More and more Americans are moving closer to the sun. Spend any time around warm-weather cities like Orlando, Phoenix and Las Vegas, and you'll be convinced they're simply giving jobs and housing away to newcomers. And the modern marvel that makes life possible in sultry climates is none other than air conditioning (AC).
Some Americans living in northern states might consider AC a luxury, but for people living in Texas and Arizona, AC is as mandatory as a refrigerator. Certified home inspectors will generally encounter two kinds of AC systems: central air conditioners and room air conditioners. A career in home inspection will make you mighty familiar with their characteristics.
Room AC units are easy to spot, because they're usually stuck in a window or built into the wall, with both the air compressor and air handler contained within the unit. The most important thing to check for with a window unit is whether it has been safely installed -- becoming a home inspector means you'll learn to put on a "safety hat" while on the job. When it comes to central AC, however, the compressor is generally located outside by the foundation.
The biggest obstacle in effectively inspecting air conditioning units is the calendar. You can't properly inspect an AC unit unless it's hot outside. You should never turn an air conditioner on in cold weather! Anything below 60 degrees Fahrenheit is not recommended. The best a certified home inspector can do during cold weather is to check the air filter and compressor for any signs of decay, as well as evaluating any visible chords or lines.
Let's assume, however, that it's a hot August morning when you show up for your home inspection job. First, turn on the unit and see if it's operational. Also, note down any excessive wear or damage visible on the unit, as well as its approximate age. Once it's on, see how quickly and how well it cools down the house or the particular room. If the unit was added after the house was built, rely on your home inspection training to see if there any electrical hazards.
For central AC units, it's a good idea to see how well the outside compressor has been maintained. Hedges and trees should be well away from the unit, while leaves and other debris should be kept off its surfaces; a lack of free-flowing air will reduce the efficiency of the compressor.
In general, a well-kept AC unit will begin emitting cool air within minutes. And once you've got your home inspector license, it won't take you much time to get right in there and start evaluating a home's air conditioning system.
Labels: home inspection career, home inspection online course, home inspection training
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
Unless you establish your home inspection career in the Brazilian rain forest, odds are you'll inspect a variety of heating systems over your career. This week we'll take a look at forced air heating systems, which by far are one of the most popular forms of central heating in America.
Forced hot air is a loop system, where cool air is drawn down to the basement through a system of ductwork. There, it is taken into a furnace (operating on fuels like oil, electricity, or gas) and then heated over hot coils. This heated air is then recirculated through the house, until the desired air temperature is established in each room. Don't worry if this is all new: becoming a home inspector means that you'll study about forced hot air in your home inspection training course.
A certified home inspector's first task is to identify the furnace fuel. A few possibilities were mentioned above, although wood and coal are also common. After that, it's important to begin with the basics: turn the thermostat down and see if the furnace clicks on. Once it's on, check the furnace's flame (blue is ideal, beware of yellow) and then listen carefully for the hum of a smooth fan sound. A comprehensive home inspection job will also include a review of ducts, to make sure they are properly attached.
Other important areas to inspect are:
- exterior of the furnace cabinet (look for rust spots)
- filter
- vent pipe
- damper doors
- age of the unit
- limit controls
As with inspecting any other part of the house, a certified home inspector shouldn't abandon common sense as he goes through his checklist. When it comes to dealing with fuels, your sense of smell will often identify potential hazards. If you smell gas, for example, you may have to deviate from your normal inspection routine, and investigate the issue further. As with any type of heating system, you're dealing with a complex set of operations, so there is no substitute for hitting the books and getting to know the details; this is when you fall back on instruction from your home inspection course.
The best way, therefore, to get the job done is to rely on your home inspection training, head down into the cool of the basement and discover that a career in home inspection teaches you how to take the heat.
Labels: career in home inspection, home inspection career, home inspection training, licensed home inspector
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.
Labels: home inspection, home inspection training, home inspectors, home selling season
