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,…
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…
Work life for a home inspector is a lot more involved than walking through a house and taking a few photos. There’s also the business side of the industry, which includes bookkeeping, marketing, networking and more. If you’re thinking about a career in the home inspection industry, here’s an average slice of the average workday.…
Nearly every home has at least one or two areas where a certified home inspector just can’t see or reach. Maybe the living room sofa blocks an outlet or the crawlspace is too low to safely shimmy under. Perhaps the roof is so steep that it’s only safe for a bird or Frisbee to land…
There’s no reason for home inspecting to remain a male-dominated field. Anyone, man or woman, can train to be an inspector and open their own business with a relatively small investment. There are no special XY chromosome-specific traits required. The industry is wide open. Still, few women think of home inspecting as a viable career…
According to the Vermont Secretary of State, home inspectors in Vermont are governed by two appointees. These advisors are professional inspectors with at least five years of experience. They collaborate with the Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) about industry-related concerns, such as training. Before home inspectors, known as property inspectors in Vermont, are licensed, they’re…
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…
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,…
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…
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,…