Category Archives: Continuing Education

Green Inspections Earn More Green for Your Wallet

As more homeowners want efficient homes with a lower environmental impact, the call for “green inspections” is expected to rise. More homeowners want to know about details such as the home’s energy score, plus its energy efficiency and water efficiency rating. This information, says Carol Dikelsky for ASHI Reporter, helps prospective buyers and existing homeowners…

Watch Your Head: How a Slight Injury Could Spell Big Trouble for Home Inspectors

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:…

Inspecting Luxury Homes: How Different is It?

If you’ve seen one nice home you’ve seen them all, right? Hardly. Technology is advancing quickly, and along with it the systems and fixtures in luxury homes. What you’re accustomed to inspecting might bear some resemblance to what you’ll find in a high-end property. But some of it might leave you scratching your head. If…

Expert Interview Series: Home Inspector Mike Chamberlain on Building a Successful Home Inspection Business

Mike Chamberlain is the owner and lead home inspector with MC2 Home Inspections. He has a background in construction and residential real estate and has nine years of experience as an inspector and business owner. We recently asked him about the challenges of running a home inspection business. Here’s wha the had to say: What…

4 Reasons Why a Visual Inspection Might Not Cut It

If you’ve been in the home inspection industry for more than a minute, you’re well-familiar with the “visual inspection” language that’s so common. It’s in nearly every Standards of Practice, both with associations and at certain state levels. But are any inspections really visual only? And could a visual inspection ever be sufficient? Some industry…

All About Air Conditioning

The weather will soon warm up again, and air conditioning units will get a workout. That’s the classic time for lurking problems to surface. In winter, you’ll switch on the air conditioning just long enough to inspect it. But when the weather is warm and the unit might be running more often, problems that have…

Expert Interview Series: Patrick Fusco about Water Damage in Basements

According to the National Flood Insurance Program, floods are the No. 1 natural disaster in the U.S. and they’re not cheap to recover from. Between 2005 and 2014 NFIP estimates flood insurance claims averaged $3.5 billion a year. And with climate change bringing more intense storms, chances are this average will only grow. Which is…

Podcast Review: Dealing with Competition

ICA School’s course author and instructor, Steve Preins, regularly takes email questions from students, prospective students and inspectors out working in the industry. You never know which question will pop up next, and he addresses them in a regular podcast series available at no cost. This week’s question is from prospective student, Tom, in Orlando,…

CLIPP™ Inspections: Help Others and Help Your Business

With Americans living longer and healthier lives, many older men and women prefer to stay in their own home instead of moving with family or opting for retirement residences. Additionally, Americans with disabilities need certain home improvements to make living at home more accessible. Unfortunately, the idea is not without its problems. That’s where CLIPP…

4 Reasons Pre-Inspection Agreements Matter

As you probably know, or will learn soon after earning your certification, there’s a lot more to being a home inspector than just performing inspections. Some keys to good business take a little extra effort on your part, but are well worth it in the long run. Such is the case with a pre-inspection agreement.…