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.
Fact #1 - A home inspector will pinpoint any current or potential problems, but will not fix them.
A home inspector will never fix any problems in a home. The inspector's only job is to diagnose any existing or potential problems and provide the buyers with a written report about those problems. Of course, the buyer can use this as a negotiation tool with the sellers, but shouldn't expect any repairs to be made by the home inspector.
Fact #2 - The home inspection will address only structural issues, not cosmetic ones.
When it comes to scrapes and scratches, buyers are on their own. These are considered cosmetic issues and not included with the home inspection. Offbeat paint colors, nicks in the wall and stained carpet, while visually unappealing, have nothing to do with the condition of the home.
Fact #3 - It is unethical for a seller to conceal any problems within the house.
Real estate professionals advise sellers not to try to conceal problems with the house. The ethical and legal thing is for them to let the buyer know about any structural problems. Plus, a home inspector will most likely uncover these problems when the inspection is done.
Fact #4 - Sellers should fix any major problems before a home inspection.
It is often a good idea for home sellers to fix any major problems before a house is put on the market. If they're left incomplete, it can lead to a negative home inspection and mean losing money on the home sale.
Fact #5 - The home inspection may not cover everything.
The scope and size of the home inspection depends on the type of contract the buyer has with the seller. A typical home inspection includes the structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing aspects of a house. There may be extra services provided as well, such as radon testing or mold detection.
Fact #6 - Everything should work as it was intended - everything doesn't have to be new and of the latest technology.
Your job is to make sure that everything is in working order and doesn't require repairs. Of course a home buyer would like everything new and up-to-date, but that isn't within the scope of a home inspector's job. The house just needs to be in sound condition – the age is not relevant, unless the home is 100+ years old.
Labels: home inspection, home inspector
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
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
Many people mistakenly think that insulation is only for homes in cold climates; and while this was true as recently as thirty years ago, everything has now changed. These days you're as likely to find insulation in Miami as you are in Maine, and the reason is the same in both cases - energy efficiency. And if you want to become a home inspector, this is an important development to keep in mind.
So for home inspectors in warm climates, one of the first tasks in the home inspection process is to learn if the house has insulation, which is becoming more important as larger numbers of Americans rely on air conditioning to cool their homes. Proper insulation in a warm-weather home will help reduce a home owner's energy bill. When looking at your new home inspection checklist, this question won't be as pressing because all new homes, wherever they are built, will have insulation.
There are three spots where one will find insulation: attics, walls and floors. To check out the attic, locate the crawl space opening in the ceiling and take a look and see what's between the rafters. Generally it shouldn't be necessary to climb up into the attic, but if you must, then be sure to wear a face mask.
Determining whether there is insulation in the walls is a bit trickier. Overall a good strategy is to take off one of the plates covering an electrical circuit box (make sure you first go to the circuit breaker box and cut the electricity). There's usually a little gap between the wallboard and the circuit box where you can slip in a screwdriver and learn if there is any insulation present; a flashlight may even spotlight the furry pink stuff as well. If you have no luck, try another electrical circuit box in the room, if that too turns up empty, you probably have your answer.
Finally, home inspectors must check to see if the floors are insulated. This is much easier than checking the walls, for all one needs to do is get into a crawlspace to see if there are insulation bats in between the floors joists. If the house has a basement, it's as easy as taking a stroll down the cellar steps and looking up at the floor from below. Starting a home inspection business means you'll cover the house from top to bottom.
Just as a home inspector must be insulated against the vagaries of weather, prospective home inspectors must protect their future careers by enrolling in an accredited, home inspection program. Online home inspection courses come in all shapes and sizes, so it is important that a distance education home inspection school be an accredited member of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). Allied Schools
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Legislation in
Allied Schools, www.homeinspectioncourse.com
Labels: home inspection courses, home inspection online school, home inspection training, home inspector, michigan home inspector
Americans are in love with the west. Each year, despite predictions to the contrary, Americans move from colder parts of the country to the sunshine states of
People who want to become home inspectors, however, must be far more practical when seeing that older homes have been correctly retrofitted for earthquakes - a real estate inspection will go a long way toward making sure someone's dream house doesn't turn into a nightmare during an earthquake.
Allied Schools, www.homeinspectioncourse.com
Labels: california home inspection, home inspector, real estate
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
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
The issue of home inspection standards is sometimes a touchy subject among certified home inspectors, but when it comes to the issue of mold - home inspectors agree that the standard response to mold should be extreme aversion. With this in mind, licensed home inspectors confronting mold will certainly benefit from the International Associations of Certified Indoor Air Consultants' (IAC2) Mold Inspection Standards of Practice.
IAC2 is a certifying body for home inspectors who have met certain education requirements in the area of indoor air quality. Members of the National Association of Home Inspectors (NACHI), for example, receive a free membership to IAC2 when they pass certain courses. When you become a home inspector, you enter an industry where continuing education is important - it's never too late to learn, as the expression goes.
IAC2's standards clearly lay out the ground rules for home inspectors when confronting mold; the standards make it clear, among other things, that a mold inspection is not a home inspection, nor should it be considered a proper indoor air quality inspection. It's important that students entering home inspection schools understand that a real estate inspection and a mold inspection are two different things.
"A mold inspection," according to IAC2's standards, "is a non-invasive visual examination of a building to identify and report on conditions that have led to water intrusion, water damage and conditions conducive to microbial growth."
The inspector is not required, for example, to enter the attic, touch insulation or walk on the roof during a mold inspection. On the other hand, an inspector is required to inspect visible duct work, gutters and the ventilation of attic spaces, to name just a few requirements.
The standards indicate that a mold inspection is not "technically exhaustive" and is not designed to find concealed or latent defects in the house. Mold inspectors should also know that IAC2's standards only apply to housing structures with four or fewer dwelling units.
Whether someone is already a seasoned home inspector or just beginning to consider home inspection training, familiarity with these standards of mold inspection can only benefit their inspection knowledge. To read the mold standards in their entirety, visit IAC2's site at www.iac2.org/sop.php
Labels: home inspection, home inspector, National Association of Home Inspectors
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
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
We all remember the Maytag commercials with the lonely Maytag repairman. As a certified home inspector, you'll inspect kitchen appliances and see if it's high-time to wake up the Maytag man and have him fix an appliance or two.
Licensed home inspectors are expected to inspect all appliances that are a permanent part of the home. They do not inspect freestanding items (a microwave, for example) unless these appliances are to be sold as part of the house. When evaluating appliances, certified home inspectors should always operate them to make sure they work. We'll take a look at three common items that are covered in any good home inspection training course: garbage disposals, dishwashers and cooking surfaces.
Garbage disposals slice up food material and send it down the drain line. The main problem with disposals is that they jam; most models have a fitting for a hex wrench, which allows the user to manually turn the blades and clear up the jam. Certified home inspectors should turn on the disposal for a few seconds to check if it's operable. Possible deficiencies in this appliance include: too much vibration, leaking or a missing splashguard.
Dishwashers are simple enough to understand. An electric pump sprays hot water on your dishes and cups. To get the job done right, dishwashers require a water temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit; a typical cycle is anywhere between 30 and 90 minutes. A professional house inspection course will keep you out of hot water in this area.
Licensed home inspectors should run the dishwasher and then stop it by unlocking the door prior to playing with the timer. At the end of the cycle, notice if there's too much water remaining in the cabinet; a little water, however, is no problem as it helps keep the seals from drying out. The rotating arm spray should be checked to make sure it moves without obstructions. Problems to note on the inspection report would be things like no hot water, poor drainage or a door that doesn't open and close properly.
Your cooking surfaces are going to be either gas cook tops or electrical cook tops. When it comes to gas, inspectors need to turn on the burners and check out the flame. The cook flame should be bright blue and respond quickly to the turning of the control knob. If you smell gas, investigate further. Evaluating an electric gas stove involves making sure the heating elements don't get too hot and that the controls work properly. Online home inspection classes are one way to ensure you know your cooking surfaces.
Your home inspection education will give you the training to have a successful home inspection career, and with luck, avoid the lonely fate of the Maytag repairman.
Labels: building inspector classes, home inspector, home inspector class
Turn on the television these days and chances are you'll hear something about mold. Increased publicity about this problem increases the likelihood that certified home inspectors will field questions on this subject.
Mold in the home can lead to serious health concerns for residents, including allergies and other respiratory ailments. Often there is a lot of hype in the media about health hazards, but toxic mold is a reality and people do get sick. Licensed home inspectors need to treat the problem seriously and check for mold during a home inspection job.
It's certainly necessary for certified home inspectors to know what mold looks like and where in the house it's commonly found: wood studs, drywall, ceiling tiles, ductwork and carpets, to name a few. But it's also increasingly important for licensed home inspectors to know what mold is. A solid home inspection training course will school you in the basics of this important issue.
Mold is a microscopic organism that helps break down organic material in the environment. One of its favorite snacks is cellulose, which is commonly found in wood. And if it weren't for fungi, such as mold, we'd be up to our eyeballs in ten thousand year's worth of yard waste. This we can appreciate, certainly, but when mold starts growing on our floors joists, all thanksgiving goes out the window. A home inspection career means you'll help people identify this potential health hazard.
Mold needs three important ingredients to prosper: moisture, warmth and food. Very often mold encounters these conditions in the bathroom, basement or kitchen. This is one reason licensed home inspectors are always on the look out for moisture and water damage in a house, which might lead to a serious mold problem. According to the National Association of Home Builders, standing water in an area with a temperature between 40 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit can produce mold in as little as 48 hours.
Mold comes in many colors, including black, white, orange, green and brown. It often appears as a black stain. The best way to see what mold looks like, is to check out photos on the Internet. During a home inspection job, a strong flashlight is the weapon of choice for examining stains and spots.
One reason a home inspection is so important, is to identify mold for a potential home buyer. For homeowners who've had some mold issues and are hoping to sell their home, a few home inspector training tips may help:
- Get that house dry - identify water leaks
- Install exhaust fans in damp areas of the home
- Put plastic down on the floor of crawl spaces
- Remove water damaged carpets
- Don't forget to vacuum regularly
When you become a home inspector, you'll learn many things you expected, and some you didn't. The need to identify mold may come as a surprise, but any professional home inspection class will feature it as part of their training.
Labels: Certified home inspector, home inspection career, home inspector
Whenever a home inspection is performed, even the most experienced inspector can forget something. That's why you have a checklist, to remember things like plumbing, air, water heater, windows, etc.
But even the most obvious things can be easy to overlook, especially when they are hiding away. Let's take light, for instance. Lighting is an incredibly important part of any house but a lot of it is easy to overlook. Remember that your inspection will probably be performed during the daytime so some lights won't be on. In addition, some lights can be hidden away so you won't know they're there. Always remember to ask the owner about any out-of-the-way lighting and keeps your eyes out for some of these:
Exterior Lighting
As you walk up to the house, you may notice lights along the walkway. They may not be on because of the hour, but that makes it especially important to remember to check them. Some homes may have installed exterior flood lights; low voltage lights create beautiful effects in gardens or on architectural details of the home. Be sure to check these. Some home owners have even been known to run lights into trees or on the roof, to light the areas below. Small lights on pilasters, highlighting small details, should also be remembered.
Other exterior lighting can include pool lighting or lighting for other areas of recreation.
Hidden Lighting
Lights are often hidden away to provide safety and/or access. The obvious ones might be lights in a walk-in closet or pantry, or the light over a stove. Keep in mind also, that there may be lights installed inside regular closets, in shower enclosures, and within built-in appliances. Finally, some homes may include installed night-lights.
Always ask if there are additional lights you may be forgetting.
Settings for Lighting
Lights aren't strictly an on/off feature. There may be some settings to keep in mind. With exterior lights especially, the lights may be set for a certain time. Be sure to check these timers. They may also be set on a motion sensor. This is also important to check. Inside, where a dimmer switch is used, make sure the light dims appropriately.
The more thorough your inspection is, the happier your client will be and that will mean more business for you in the long run.
Labels: home inspection, home inspector, home owners
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.
Labels: become a home inspector, Certified home inspector, home inspector, interNACHI
