New Legislation Provides Home Inspection Rules
 
I've always advocated that a homebuyer get a Home Inspection -- and add it as a contingency on the contract. However, keep in mind while many reputable companies offer extensive training to their inspectors, there are many others who became Inspectors by virtue of hanging a shingle and taking out an ad.

Home inspections have just started receiving proper attention from state legislators over the last few years. For a piece of the transaction that can be such a deal maker or breaker, it always seemed interesting to me that this industry that sought out all the defects of a property could field employees who had little or no accreditation for determining the status of a home's physical condition.

Recently, states have begun to require home inspectors to maintain varying levels of certification, training and/or licensing.  In large because the states have really come under fire from Realtors, mortgage providers and now the inspection industry itself, asking that a standardized education process be put into place on the state level. Looking over the measures, however, shows that states have different ideas of what it takes to protect the consumer from inexperienced or incompetent inspectors who could cause more damage than good.

About five years ago the Examination Board of Home Inspectors instituted the National Home Inspector Examination, a content-valid examination for use by regulatory bodies and membership organizations. It's about the most standardized test for home inspectors out there and is used as a base line for several of the legislative acts passed in the last few years.

The American Society of Home Inspectors, Inc. (ASHI) has become an advocate of sensible, professional regulation.  ASHI represents more than 6,000 home inspectors across the country.  For a list of states and their regulatory requirements, visit ASHI's website and click Homebuyer, then follow the link to State Regulations. I would also suggest you take a look at ASHI's Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics so you have an understanding of what the inspector should and should not be doing.

The home inspector is exactly that. While he may have a background in electrical, plumbing, construction or other home maintenance, he is not there to give estimates and tell you how to fix the defects. He's there to provide a status of the house. It should be an objective look at the property that lets the homebuyer (and seller) know the defects, weaknesses and potential future problems of the structure.

ASHI, professional home inspector associations and state legislatures are now on the same page -- requiring a standardized examination process to assure the consumer of consistent treatment on their most expensive investment.   To better insure a professional home inspection, make sure your Home Inspector is ASHI certified.