Although home inspecting isn’t an especially dangerous job, there are plenty of opportunities to get a bump on the noggin. It might feel like a minor bump to you. But even a seemingly slight injury can have dangerous effects that you might not realize until much later. Be safe, and wear a hardhat. Here’s why:…
DetailsYou’ve finished your ICA School training, or you’re about to. In no time at all, you’ll be ready to take on your first client. Not so fast. You’ve got a lot of work to do before you set out to perform home inspections, and all of it can help determine the success of your fledgling…
DetailsSelf-paced, online study sounds awesome! But then the reality of late nights and finding the time and peace to focus on learning sets in. Many people who enroll in online study programs drop out, but that doesn’t have to be you. Here are 5 habits that can help you be among the ones who don’t…
DetailsWhat have you done for yourself lately? That’s the subject of ICA School director of education, Steve Preins’, latest podcast. And it’s a timely one. Spring is here, and the real estate market has done well for the past few years. That’s the ideal scenario for doing something genuinely beneficial for yourself by making the…
DetailsThere’s a lot of stress on a home inspector if he worries too much about a home sale hinging on the report. Sometimes that’s the case, but it’s not always a bad thing. More buyers are relying on the inspection report to help them make an informed decision, not just to tell them whether or…
DetailsSometimes what separates the busiest pros from the average Joes isn’t the quality of home inspection or level of service. Sometimes, it’s just the impression that prospective customers get when they spot your truck on the road or find your company online. With so many other things at the forefront as you start a new…
DetailsBuilding code changes with the times, but that doesn’t mean older homes have to comply. With a new addition or home renovation, the contractor abides by the most recent set of regulations. But when a home is original, or mostly so, you might encounter some interesting “grandfathered-in” hazards. Whether or not to report a hazard…
DetailsFor whatever reason, some homeowners make accessing the attic more difficult than it ought to be. The most common method, which probably isn’t deliberate, is covering it with the same ceiling texture that many other homeowners can’t wait to get rid of. But whether or not the attic is sealed, you still need to access…
DetailsHome buyers are your most frequent customers, by far, but there’s a new trend toward pre-sale inspections. Also called pre-listing inspections, they’re a smart move on the seller’s part. Learning what’s good and bad empowers the seller to make the right decisions when placing the house on the market. And lucky you, it could put…
DetailsAll that you need is to do a simple Google search and you’ll find numerous news and opinion articles about home inspectors. You’ll read about what clients should expect from an inspection, whether inspectors perform a good service, and how buyers should always beware. The “beware” part of the equation comes up often because although…
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