News and information about home inspection training
Home inspectors should inspect the electrical system in a home carefully, not just to make sure it works properly, but to make sure it is safe. Of all the home systems, the electrical is the most dangerous. A problem with the electrical system can result in fire, property destruction, injury, and even death. The most…
The two main factors affecting the home inspection business are real estate trends and location. The real estate market is dependent on the economy, so it’s up and down. Land and homeowners can wait for prices to come back up — real estate is almost always a good investment — but it can be harder…
As a home inspector, it’s important that you have an understanding of the types of wood-destroying organisms and how to identify them. Most homes are made of wood, and these creatures can do significant — and sometimes irreparable — damage to a home. Even a home made of brick or stucco is not safe. Bugs…
The cost of a home inspection varies, mostly according to the economic parameters of the area in which you work. Homeadvisor.com puts the typical range between $278 and $388, and the national average at $325. The best way to help determine how to set your prices is to find out how much everyone else in…
ICA’s home inspection course provides you with the skills you need to be a successful home inspector, and this includes testing indoor air quality. Anyone hoping to earn their home inspector certification would do well to study up on the most common air quality challenges found in both residential and commercial properties. Indoor air…
Electricity is really handy, but it’s also dangerous. That’s why only licensed electricians are supposed to perform electrical work — to make sure it’s safe. But you can’t see the wiring inside the walls, ceilings, and floors, so the best way you can make sure a home’s wiring is safe — outside of checking the…
Furnaces are a great invention. They heat our homes so well and so efficiently. But when something goes wrong with them, they can be dangerous. When you mix gas and air and fire, you have to do it right. When you’re inspecting a home with a combustion furnace, what should you look for to make…
There’s been a lot of talk in recent years about “sick houses.” What are they, and how can we ensure that a house is healthy? While many inspection training programs touch on this concept, it’s worth a deep dive to understand just how dangerous an unhealthy home can be. Medicine Net says a house that…
Many professionals improve their knowledge and skills by reading literature relevant to their field. As a home inspector — or a home inspector to be — you can find lots of helpful and valuable information in the books and resources listed below. It’s exciting to embark on a new career, and it’s rewarding to learn…
Mold isn’t just ugly; it can be dangerous too. That’s why looking for mold is such an important part of a home inspection. Some mold can be cleaned up with bleach, but some is in the air, and you can’t even see it. Breathing in these mold spores on a daily basis, the way occupants…