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…

Virginia Home Inspector Continuing Education: What’s it Like?

It’s a time of sweeping industry changes for home inspectors in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Until recently, there was a choice about whether or not to get certified. Beginning July 1, certification will be virtually a non-issue as everyone will need a license. Virginia home inspector continuing professional education or CPE is part of that…

Summer is a Great Time for Home Inspectors to Talk About Ice Dams

Ice dams are only a problem in winter, but summer is a great time to educate your customers and the public about risks and prevention. No one wants to climb into an attic or work outside when the weather is frigid. But now it’s warm enough to do something about the insulation and ventilation issues…

How to Pick the Right Home Inspection Association for You

If you ask members of the American Society of Home Inspectors, also known as ASHI, they’ll probably tell you that ASHI is the way to go. But you can expect the same type of answer from the members of any home inspection association, whether it’s a national organization or one at the state level. So,…

Home Inspecting 101: What’s it All About?

So you’re thinking about becoming certified home inspector? That’s great! It also means there’s a lot to learn. Even for contractors with years of experience building and renovating houses, home inspecting is different. Here’s a quick primer on what home inspecting is and what it isn’t. Home Inspections and Appraisals are Different Plenty of homeowners…

Certified Home Inspectors, Beware! Some Gifts Trigger RESPA Issues

Real estate agents have the potential to drive a lot of business to home inspectors. It’s a longstanding tradition to bring along goodies when inspectors visit agents, but there’s a fine line between goodies and an ethical and legal dilemma. How can you treat agents with kindness and avoid an unwitting RESPA snag? Here’s what…

How a Certified Home Inspector Spots Trouble in the Attic

Attics are handy spaces. Too bad they’re often misused by the most well-meaning homeowners. In your career as a certified home inspector, you’re bound to find some interesting and downright dangerous home defects in a space that was never designed for living. Here are a few that are more common than they should be. Inferior,…

Four Reasons to Consider Becoming a FEMA Field Inspector

Every year, fire, floods, hurricanes, tornados, blizzards and other natural disasters leave hundreds or even thousands of people with severely damaged or totally destroyed homes and businesses. If a formal request is made by the governor of the state where the disaster occurred, the affected area may, at the sole discretion of the president of…

Drone Thermal Imaging: The Next Wave in UAV Inspection Services

Not long ago, the use of drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) was confined almost exclusively to the military and governmental agencies. It’s only been within the past few years that advances in technology brought down the price of drones to the point the general public could afford them. At first considered novelties or toys,…