Home Inspections

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Home Inspections

Home Inspectors help individuals make informed buying and /or selling decisions, about possibly the most important transaction ever made. You should feel confident in what you are purchasing or selling. Home inspectors are there to help you know understand what you are buying as well help you get your home ready to sell. A quality home inspection could be the most comprehensive insurance you could purchase.

How to choose a home inspector

For most people, the purchase of a home is the largest investment they’ll ever make. Getting an independent, expert opinion on the operability of the structure and its systems is a no-brainer. But not all home inspectors have the same experience, training, or certifications – what’s more is there are currently no federal regulations governing home inspectors. Home inspectors are governed only by whatever laws are in place in the state in which the inspection is performed, and these laws vary greatly. So how do you make sure you’ve hired the right person for the job?

When shopping for a home inspector, it’s vital that you do your homework and interview each inspector based on the checklist below.

Do not price shop. When hiring a home inspector, you’re basically hiring an advocate with your interests in mind to give you their expert opinion on the home’s condition. With that in mind, making sure that you’re hiring an inspector with plenty of knowledge and training means not shopping for one by price alone. Training, certifications, and continuing education don’t come cheap to the inspectors and therefore, their expertise isn’t going to be cheap either. When it comes to home inspections – as with most things – you get what you pay for.

Research their credentials. Since there are no national standards for home inspectors, one of the best things you can do to find out about an inspector’s qualifications is to ask what associations they belong to. Some associations require minimum training, experience, continuing education and also require the inspector pass certain exams. However, not all associations are created equal. Check out the associations’ minimum requirements. The best associations require that the inspector pass yearly exams and obtain a specific amount of continuing education credits. Also find out what level of the association the inspector occupies. Some associations have “candidate” and “associate” or other levels that basically mean that the inspector has not met the requirements to be a full member. Also ask what certifications the inspector holds and then research them as well.

Ask for references. An inspector should be happy to provide you with three references from previous clients. Call those clients and ask them about their experience with their inspections.

Make sure they have a contract. Check the inspector’s contract so that you will know what they inspect for, what their limits are and what standards of practice they use for their inspections. Understand that a home inspection is not a waranty or a guarantee, but a visible and accessible inspection of the property on the day of the inspection.

Make your own decision. Some states allow real estate agents and other professionals to make recommendations on what home inspector to hire, and these recommendations can be in your best interest in that your agent is working for you and is familiar witht the inspectors in the area, their experience and reporting methods. However, a recommendation does not necessarily guarantee that the inspector is the best choice. Follow up with your own referrals and make your own decision based on your research.

Ask to see one of their inspection reports. At the conclusion of any inspection, you should receive a report on the inspector’s findings. Again, inspectors are going to vary widely – report styles can range from the minimal checklist to the jargon-filled narrative. Inspection reports can be difficult to understand, so it’s important that you check out a sample report. (see link below) Items marked as “fair”, “poor”, or “inadequate” without any further explanation will not help you understand what the problem is or what exactly to repair. Make sure that the inspector identifies the visible problem in the report/summary and gives direction regarding the issue.

Is your home inspector blind?

If he's not a member of the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI), he might just be!
— Article courtesy NACHI, www.nachi.org/blind.htm used with permission 12/27/2004

Other home inspection associations have no entrance requirements. Blind people, children, psychics (who claim to "sense" if a house is ok) and even pets have joined other associations. NACHI is the only association that front-ends its membership requirements. We turn down more than 1/2 the inspectors who want to join because they can't pass our exam or fulfill our membership requirements.

NACHI inspectors:

Have to pass NACHI's Online Inspector Examination every year. (This general, not association-specific exam is open and free to all).
Have to complete NACHI's online Ethics Obstacle Course. (This open book Ethics course is open and free to all).
Have to take NACHI's online Standards of Practice Quiz (This open book Standards of Practice quiz is open and free to all).
Have to sign and submit an Affidavit.
Have access to NACHI's free visual aid inspection frames to help them learn.
Have access to NACHI's free library for improving their inspection skills.
Have access to NACHI's message board for exchanging information and tips.
Have access to NACHI's What's New section so they can keep up with the industry.
Have access to NACHI's specific-topic advisory boards.
Have access to Dear NACHI for detailed advice.
Have access to a time-tested Agreement which keeps them (and you) away from lawsuits.
Have access to NACHI's Report Review/Mentoring service.
Have to submit passport photos for their membership I.D.
Have access to NACHI's free online inspection courses.
Have to have mock inspections reviewed before performing their first fee paid inspection.
Have to carry E&O insurance (if their state requires it).
Have to abide by NACHI's Standards of Practice.
Have to abide by NACHI's Code of Ethics.
Have to fulfill NACHI's Continuing Education requirements.
Have to maintain an Online Continuing Education Log (free) as per the Continuing Education Policy.
Have to periodically attend local Chapter meetings.
Have access to a real estate agent hold harmless clause.
Have access to NACHI University.
Have access to NACHI's Consumer Recovery and Legal Defense Funds.
Have a consumer hotline for their clients.
Have access to an Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Service.
And coming in 2005: Have to complete NACHI's Occupant Hazard Recognition Primer.

So the next time you need a home inspector, make sure they are members of NACHI and never use a candidate or associate of any association. NACHI, America's elite home inspection association.