What’s cool, powerful and fits all over? High-velocity air conditioning, that’s what. This system is robust, compact, and in many homes, can cool more efficiently than a traditional air conditioning system. If you’ve never encountered one before, here’s what you need to know. High-Velocity Systems Have Unobtrusive Vents Like any conventional air conditioning system, a […]
Is Home Inspecting the Perfect Retirement Career?
Retirement doesn’t mean what it used to. Now, many people approaching retirement are stepping off the end of one career onto the beginning of something brand new. Some even take early retirement to get a head start on the next life stage. Whether you gradually ease out of your current line of work or take […]
Roofing 101: What a Certified Home Inspector Needs to Know About Roofs and Shingles
The most common roofing material in America is the classic asphalt shingle. But even they have variations that you might not know about. Pan out for a wider view and you’ll find a wide range of roofing in so many colors and designs that it boggles the mind. Some materials are only suitable in specific […]
5 Things a Home Inspector Should Know About Hydronic Heat Systems
Some homeowners think it’s a trend. Other homeowners don’t know how they’d live without it. Hydronic home heating systems can warm a whole house or just the coldest part of a floor. As a certified home inspector, you might only find hydronic systems in a few homes here and there. Learn how they tick now […]
Here’s How a Certified Home Inspector Defines Defects and Material Defects
Defects and material defects aren’t necessarily the same thing to a certified home inspector. Generally, inspectors focus on locating material defects. But what’s the difference, and does it matter? Defects mean something isn’t as it should be. It’s broken. It’s damaged. It’s defective. But a material defect takes the idea one step further. It refers […]
Here’s What You Need to Know About Stucco Cladding in 2017
Stucco has taken a lot of hits over the past decade or so, but it’s still in the running as a preferred home cladding. Applied the right way using proper materials and with skilled hands, it can protect a home from the elements for many years. The problems started to emerge with exterior insulation and […]
Certified Home Inspectors Take Risks on the Job: Here’s How to Stay Safer
Probably, most of the homes you inspect will be sound, secure and healthy within reason. But every once in a while, you’ll inspect a house with lurking hazards. Home buyers and other customers will hire you to tell it to them straight. If there’s a problem, they’ll want to know about it. While you look […]
6 Motivation Tips for Self-Paced Home Inspection Training
Online home inspection training is both convenient and challenging. Retention rates are lower for online courses than for brick-and-mortar classrooms but that doesn’t have to be your story. The problem isn’t necessarily with the digital space but in a lack of realistic preparation. Some new students think online study is easier. That’s not the case. […]
How and Why to Market Home Inspections to Out-of-State Buyers
Would you buy a house sight unseen? Some people do. Even with a home inspection to spot defects before closing, living in another state or across the country makes the buying process riskier. That’s why a certified home inspector is so important to the process. If you want to expand your services, market your business […]
3 Surprising Things a Certified Home Inspector Can Find
Is there treasure in the attic? Cutting-edge wiring in an unassuming older home? What about a hidden room that’s tucked under a staircase? A certified home inspector sometimes finds the most unusual things on the job. Here are 3 surprises, both good and bad, that you might miss on the initial walk-through but your inspector […]