Home inspectors play an important role in the home-buying
process. Discover how to work as a real estate inspector.
What Is a Home Inspector?
A home inspector is a real estate professional who inspects
a property and writes a detailed report on its condition for the buyer. An
inspector looks for large and minor issues, such as structural damage,
electrical systems, HVAC, plumbing, and roofing, that a homebuyer may not
notice during a walk-through. Although a home inspection is optional, most
mortgage lenders require that one be performed. Potential homeowners may
request that the seller pay for repairs, request a price reduction to reflect
repair costs, or even back out of the deal entirely based on a home inspection
report.
Before passing their licensing exam and becoming qualified
home inspectors, professional home inspectors must complete relevant education
courses and certification programs from an education provider.
Home Inspector vs. Home Appraiser
A home inspector is not the same as a home appraiser. An
appraiser determines the fair market value of a home by assessing its condition
and comparing it to similar properties. A home inspector's job is to assess the
property, look for any problems, and notify the potential buyer of any defects.
What Does a Home Inspector Look For?
A home inspector will look for the following items during an
inspection:
Asbestos: Home inspectors look for the presence of asbestos
in any crawl spaces or on the roof, as asbestos must be removed.
Compromised structures: A home inspector looks for any
structural issues or water damage in the building's foundations, supports,
roofs, flooring, and walls that could lead to major problems later on.
Electrical: Home inspectors look for faulty wiring in
electrical outlets and electrical panels.
Fire safety: An inspector determines whether a building
meets fire safety codes by looking for things like multiple fire exits and
smoke detectors.
Heating and cooling systems: Home inspectors ensure that all
heating and cooling systems work properly, do not emit radon, and are up to
code.
Infestations: A home inspector inspects the property for
infestations of wood-destroying organisms such as termites.
Plumbing: To ensure that all plumbing is in good working
order, home inspectors inspect pipes, faucets, water heaters, septic tanks,
sewer lines, and gutters.
How to Become a Home Inspector
Qualifications and licenses are required to work as a home
inspector. If you want to work as a licensed home inspector, you should do the
following:
1. Start with home inspection training. You may require
additional education before applying for licensure. Home inspection
necessitates a basic understanding of engineering as well as experience running
a customer service business. To increase your chances of becoming a successful
and trustworthy home inspector, take prelicensing courses in both. If you
already have engineering experience, consider taking continuing education
training courses to broaden your knowledge of specifics like residential versus
commercial inspection. You could also get hands-on training from a certified
home inspector. (Because some states do not recognize online courses as valid,
they do not count toward your home inspector training hours. Seek out in-person
home inspection courses instead.)
2. Know the requirements in your state. Professional
home inspectors must be licensed in their respective states. Every state
requires a certain number of hours of education; some require only sixty hours,
while others can require up to 400 hours. States also differ on whether
certification is obtained through a national or local exam. Check your state's
requirements before looking at any online courses to avoid wasting time with
incorrect information.
3. Get certified. Once you've completed your education,
you'll be able to take the National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE) and
become licensed and certified. The exam will assess your knowledge of practice
standards, property inspection, professional responsibilities, and the code of
ethics. It should be noted that not all states require the national home
inspector exam in order to obtain a home inspector license and will instead
have their own state exam.
4. Invest in insurance. To maintain your certification,
you must protect yourself from errors and unforeseen circumstances. General
liability insurance and Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance can protect
you if you make mistakes that lead to lawsuits.
5. Start a business or join one. When you become a
certified home inspector, you have the option of starting your own business and
going it alone, or joining an established home-inspection company. Both have
distinct advantages. When you join an established firm, you will immediately
benefit from their client base and relationships with realtors. Starting your
own business allows you to establish your own relationships with realtors and
real estate agents, as well as set your own hours.
If you wish to contribute to our blog, please email us on morhadotsan@gmail.com.
