4 Ways to Market Energy Audits as an Ancillary Service

Energy audits take the home inspector’s services beyond obvious (and not-so-obvious) defects and into green living territory. More and more customers are interested in energy efficiency, and the home inspector is uniquely positioned to offer that information on the front end of a home sale. At least if he or she has the right training…

What Can Infrared Technology Do For You? Plenty!

Infrared technology or thermography helps you spot more potential home defects than you could with just your eyes. And that makes your home inspections a better value for customers. It seems like a win / win situation, and in many ways it is. Just remember that the equipment is expensive, there’s a bit of a…

Are You Ready for Aerial Photography? It’s Closer Than You Think

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) relate to the same thing: drones. And drones equal easier, perhaps even more thorough roof inspections, especially when you deal with steep-pitched roofs that no one wants to scale. Drone technology has exploded in recent years. And although there was quite a wait for the FAA…

Do Home Inspectors Inspect Swimming Pools?

Swimming pools are permanent fixtures. So why are they often excluded from a home inspection? It’s a matter of choice. In areas where swimming pools are nearly as common as mailboxes, inspectors might need to brush up on pool inspection skills. But for nearly everywhere else, it’s often safer to either perform a limited inspection…

Do Home Inspectors Inspect Outbuildings?

Home inspectors inspect what’s visible and accessible inside and outside the home. That’s what essentially every Standards of Practice say. So why doesn’t it include outbuildings? Sheds, outbuildings, and other detached structures are certainly part of the property, and your insurance company might even include them. But as for home inspections, they fall into a…

Do Home Inspectors Inspect Kitchen Appliances?

Appliances don’t always convey when a house is sold, so many of the homes that an inspector inspects will have a relatively appliance-free kitchen. But where appliances are permanently installed, they require the same level of attention as the rest of the house. The newly updated ASHI Standards of Practice outline several changes that inspectors…

Do Home Inspectors Go in a Crawlspace?

Crawlspaces are, by definition, not exactly spacious. Some of them are entirely vacant aside from the occasional wild critter. They’re dirty and often dank, too. So are home inspectors really expected to shimmy inside? In most cases, the answer is yes. The crawlspace might seem like a relatively unimportant part of a home, especially compared…

Do Home Inspectors Go in an Attic?

Attics are hot in summer, cold in winter, dusty, dirty, and part of a complete home inspection. Inspectors typically work by a set of standards. They’re the Standards of Practice, and most home inspector associations have them. No matter which Standards you work by, you can bet that attic inspections are always on the list.…

Do Inspectors Walk on Roofs During Home Roof Inspections?

Homebuyers are quick to notice obvious things about the exterior of a house, such as the condition of the front door, the landscaping and the color of the stucco or siding. Roof systems, however, receive very little attention, despite the critical role they play in protecting the entire structure. Roof inspections are important, which is…

Historic Home Inspections. Not Harder, Just Slightly Different

The appeal of a historic home, or one that’s got the same birthdate without the special designation, is the stuff of dreams for a lot of people. There’s just something about a peaked Victorian or sturdy Craftsman that sets hearts aflutter. But with older properties comes the potential for a mishmash of home defects. Inspecting…