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What qualifies a home inspector to be......a home inspector?

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Home Inspector with A Closer Look Home Inspections

                                I never let my schooling interfere with my education - Mark Twain 

Just read a great post by Shane Dollman at http://activerain.com/blogsview/34630/What-to-look-for.  Shane talks about what to look for in a professional home inspector.  After reading,  it got me to thinking ;)....

As it is in the US, up here in Canada, anyone can print up some business cards, hang a sign on their door and call themselves a Home Inspector.  We have a floundering national certification process in progress up here, but we will save that one for another blog posting! :)

Back on topic....for a song and a dance and two wooden nickels, these so-called "Home Inspectors" bring disrepute not only on themselves, but the home inspection industry as a whole.  They're not only setting themselves up for some major lawsuits, but they are also putting the well-being of unsuspectiing home owners at risk. 

Now, I may take some flack for what I am about to say, but as someone with 13yrs of home improvements /renovations experience, I also include some (but, not all) of those who use to be electricians, engineers, builders, renovators etc, as doing just as much damage to the industry as these unqualified individuals.  Having past qualifications and credentials is not necessarily a bad thing per se as they can definately be of assistance in understanding how specific components of the home are build or operate.  However, an electrical engineer or electrician may not understand the reasons for the vapour barrier or how to identify mold, or a plumber may not know how to identify double tapped breakers.

Here is where the difference lies! In the fact that the home inspector is trained to look at all the different components of the home; structure, plumbing, electrical, heating, air conditioning, environmental issues, etc... and not only understand how each component operates, but how to also identify signs of breakdown or malfunction.

This is why it is of utmost importance that potential Home Inspectors - those who hold past credentials and certificates, as well as all the newbies with none - be properly trained and mentored by experienced Home Inspectors

Calvin Bailey
A Closer Look Home Inspections
www.inspectorpages.com/cbailey1
cbailey1@on.nachi.org

Show All Comments Sort:
Jimmy Breazeale
Sherlock Home Inspections - Coldwater, MS

Cal,

You make a valid point.  Yet on the subject of mentoring, yes, that is the ideal, but many live and work in areas where mentoring is extremely problematic.  There are many among us, who, like yourself, are well prepared for the home inspection profession by broad hands-on experience and education.  The rest is pretty much legalism and marketing.  Most states are waking up to the necessity of establishing minimum standards of licensure, and it has been a great debate, especially among us NACHI inspectors.  If I lived in one of those states with no licensing or oversight of any kind, I probably would have chosen another business.  I say this at the risk of opening up a whole can of worms, but I personally believe that inspectors in states without licensing are the reason E&O is so high for inspectors.  Most good inspectors rarely get a complaint, much less a lawsuit.

Mar 21, 2007 12:52 PM
Steven Turetsky
Comprehensive Building Inspections & Consultants - Staten Island, NY
Building Moisture Analyst

I have approxamately 35 years experience in the construction industry. Whether as an employee or owner, I have participated in the construction of hi-rise buildings, built laundromats, houses, etc, etc. I recently completed the construction of two mammograpy/sonnography suites and a cystology o.r. in a hospital. I am presently reconstructing a duplex condo on Madison Avenue in Manhattan.

One of the services I offer is Phased construction inspections and full construction supervision. These past mentioned projects was as the latter. It is amazing how much better a project... especially a high end project, turns out when someone who is trained and knowlegable to PREVENT defects is directing traffic.

My point being is that although I have extensive hands on knowledge of MOST of the trades, and trust me, I know alot of things about alot of things, until I was trained specifically how to inspect, both in the classroom and in the field... and practiced... I could not have done a PROPER inspection. There is definately a very unique art and science to inspecting.

I wonder how some that have little or no construction experience are able to do it. I know of some inspectors that came from careers that are nowhere related. Some struggled, most floundered. I also know of some architects that do inspections. Some are good, and some know so little about construction that it amazes me.

I guess they know how to draw.

 

 

Mar 21, 2007 02:28 PM
No name No name
Whitby, ON

Cal

You call an ace an ace.  I firmly believe that a home inspector requires to have proper training, and someone with no training should not be able to just slap up the sign on the van, and print up those Business card.  That untrained person, even if it just one of the trades folks, can potentially do more harm to the buyer than good.

A good trained home inspector really goes beyond the home, and starts to look at who is buying the home. The same home may be looked at differently based on age of buyers alone.

But when it come to Mentoring, I think there requires to be a big shift in the industry.  I for one will help any buyer get a home inspection, even if I am not available.  This means I will recommend another inspector to do the job.  That's right, I am giving work to my competition, could be you.  Mentoring can be very difficult in this business, because inspector rarely want to take a local person along for a ride-along. It is the old not in my territory.  So for me ride along tend to be some 100 miles or so away from where I am.  Consider this question, "Would you consider taking me along on one of your home Inspections?"

Interesting question, when we share the same market.

Bernard Loken, CAPM

Whitby, Ontario

Mar 21, 2007 02:39 PM
Calvin Bailey
A Closer Look Home Inspections - Oshawa, ON

quote from Benard Loken ".....Consider this question, "Would you consider taking me along on one of your home Inspections?".....

Yes I would....in a heart beat!   You see, although we all want to make a living doing what we love to do, we have to look at the bigger picture here - not only for our own good, but for the good of the inspection industry itself. 

Where there are people buying, selling, building etc... there will always be need for inspectors.  We're shooting ourselves in the foot in the long run when we try to protect that which we think is our territory.  Like any profession, building a business takes time, but with the proper training and education along with a great product and superb customer service, we will have no shortage of customers and have no need to be fearful of someone stealing our customer base - whether we share the same market or not. 

You might have seen the many, many websites that say something like "why should you choose "X"inspection company over "Y" inspection company? ....choose X company because we have "X" number of years experience in construction, renovations etc..."  as if having "X" number of years automatically qualifies "X" over "Y". 

If this is the main reason to choose one home inspection company over another, then as soon as the older inspectors retire then so will the inspection industry!

But this whole thing is bigger than we are individually.  Home Inspectors ARE the success and the value of the Inspection industry here in Canada, and if we really care about the future success of the home inspection industry, then I think we have a duty to assist all those who are honestly trying to make it great.

By mentoring, not only will the more experienced inspectors allow "tag-a-longs", but the more experienced inspectors will be open and available to assist the less experienced inspectors as they move forward

Mar 21, 2007 05:59 PM
No name No name
Whitby, ON

Well.  Calvin...

 You and I are of the new generation of Home Inspector.  I too agree that if there is no help within the industry, the older folks will retire, and the young HI will struggle.  I firmly belief that it should be the responsibility that every HI be required to mentor the younger HI regardless of where they are.  In the long run it is the consumer that will ultimately benefit.   The Realtor will also be happy to see that, those people that they trust are training new folks, and will feel more comfortable hiring the young guy.  The young ones can also teach the older folks from time to time.

I tip my tool belt to you, for taking the higher ground.  I too plan on taking on some younger folks when the time comes.

 

Bernard Loken, CAPM

Whitby, Ontario 

Mar 22, 2007 12:17 AM
David A. Podgursky PA
THE PODGURSKY GROUP @ Re/Max Direct - Boynton Beach, FL
THE PODGURSKY GROUP - Make the Right Move!

In Florida it is a business card that says home inspector...

sure there are bonded individuals that have training etc... but there is no licensure.

some home inspectors are former contractors or HUD inspectors.  I like HUD inspectors because they're typically thorough and since they HAVE seen everything at its worst then they know what they're looking at when they see a problem.

Mar 22, 2007 02:58 AM
Baker Home Inspection and Commercial Properties Inspections
Baker Residential and Commercial Properties Inspections - Springfield, VT
Home and Commercial Properties Inspections Vermont

Hey there and evening to you Calvin
Calvin, sure hope everything is going well for ya! 

Sep 06, 2011 07:21 AM
Baker Home Inspection and Commercial Properties Inspections
Baker Residential and Commercial Properties Inspections - Springfield, VT
Home and Commercial Properties Inspections Vermont

Hey there and evening to you Calvin
Calvin, sure hope everything is going well for ya! 

Sep 06, 2011 07:25 AM
Baker Home Inspection and Commercial Properties Inspections
Baker Residential and Commercial Properties Inspections - Springfield, VT
Home and Commercial Properties Inspections Vermont

Hey there and evening to you Calvin
Calvin, sure hope everything is going well for ya! 

Sep 06, 2011 07:30 AM
Baker Home Inspection and Commercial Properties Inspections
Baker Residential and Commercial Properties Inspections - Springfield, VT
Home and Commercial Properties Inspections Vermont

Hey there and evening to you Calvin
Calvin, sure hope everything is going well for ya! 

Sep 06, 2011 07:37 AM
Baker Home Inspection and Commercial Properties Inspections
Baker Residential and Commercial Properties Inspections - Springfield, VT
Home and Commercial Properties Inspections Vermont

Hey there and evening to you Calvin
Calvin, sure hope everything is going well for ya! 

Sep 06, 2011 07:46 AM
Baker Home Inspection and Commercial Properties Inspections
Baker Residential and Commercial Properties Inspections - Springfield, VT
Home and Commercial Properties Inspections Vermont

Calvin, I was checking to see it you have started being active on your blog here or not. Looks like your not.

Jul 14, 2013 11:11 PM