Home Inspector Garden Nursery Landscaping Guide
Home Inspector Must Be Certified
By James R Blunt
There are many home inspector horror stories. You could feasibly
pay $200 to $500 just to hear what you wanted to hear; that everything
is fine, only to wind up with thousands of dollars in repairs
a month or two later.
Choosing the right home inspection company can be almost as important
as choosing the right house. Getting a negative report on your
dream home is not necessarily a deal-breaker, but it may enable
you to bargain the settlement offer down to a more reasonable
level, allowing you to save the repair money and prioritize before
you move in.
A Certified Home Inspector
You would think that all home inspection services would be standardized
for consumer protection, but such is not the case. However, a
home inspector certified through the American Society of Home
Inspectors may need to pass several tests and receive as much
as 250 paid inspection training hours before obtaining certification.
To maintain certification, 40 hours of mandatory education every
two years will be required. By contrast, someone certified through
the Housing Inspection Federation need only fill out a quick form
and pay a small fee to buy the right to inspect homes in your
state. These alarming discrepancies leave it up to the home owner
to review their options and find only the best inspector for the
job.
25%To 30% Of Inspections Are Superficial Or Inaccurate
"There are a lot of people out there doing this who honestly
don’t know what they’re doing," Alan Mooney, President of
Criterium Engineers in Portland, Maine, said of home inspectors.
He added, "I would not be uncomfortable saying that 25% to
30% of the inspections that are done are superficial or inaccurate."
His home inspection company has been in business for several
decades now and works in more than half of the states. The National
Association of Home Inspectors says the trouble is that 21 states
have no licensing standards for a home inspector and the only
legal recourse most people have is to recoup the cost of the report
if thousands of dollars in defects are discovered.
Finding The Best Professional Home Inspection Service
To find the best professional home inspection service, look for
someone who is certified through the American Society of Home
Inspectors or the National Association of Home Inspectors, which
are the two most reputable associations. The National Academy
of Building Inspection Engineers also has high standards and only
employs licensed professionals as well.
Make sure your inspector carries E&O insurance, as all prudent
inspectors do. If you suspect there could be mold, asbestos, radon
or pests, then try to find an inspector who is skilled in that
area too. In many cases, it is recommended that you get two opinions:
one from a general home inspector and one from a structural engineer;
that way, you will have a better chance of picking up on areas
the first inspector may have missed.
About the Author:
James R Blunt has written a number of articles on real estate, house plans,
architecture and home improvement including
Bathroom Tile Designs,
Interior Design,
Traditional House Plans,
Design Development,
Architectural Services,
Architecture.
Keep a lookout for more of his articles on this website.
Little Known Home Inspection Facts....
When people buy homes, most mortgage companies require that the
buyer’s have a home inspection performed. This is a great line
of work for someone that can pay attention to details and knows
about construction. It is a great job that can make you the boss.
You can take on clients and build up a base of customers that
will help bring you in tons of work. If you are not sure about
how to be an inspector or you need the tools to help make the
job easier, you can go online for help.
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