When buying a home, you probably don't know enough to conduct your own home inspection. Your real estate agent can suggest someone and they might be great but how do you know that? You want someone inspecting your new home is top notch, to protect the investment you're making. That's why you want to find a certified home inspector at a professional organization like the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI).
Why Do You Want a Certified Home Inspector?
Why Do You Want a Certified Home Inspector?Some states require home inspectors to be licensed but many do not (learn what the home inspection requirements are in your state). That's why membership in a professional organization is so important. It tells you that your home inspector has met the following criteria as a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors.
- Passed ASHI's Standard of Practice and Code of Ethics module, and agreed to follow these standards in how they conduct their inspections.
- Completed at least 20 hours of continuing education every year.
- Demonstrated experience with an authorized notarized affidavit to ASHI validating at least 75 inspections (ASHI Inspector) or 250 inspections (ASHI Certified Inspectors).
- Submitted inspection reports for verification that they meet ASHI's Standard of Practice.
Finding the Best Home Inspectors
Now you know where to start your search for a certified home inspector. Our article Do You Know Many Home Inspectors outlines what home inspections are so important, and lists 4 steps to qualifying home inspectors (hint: review a sample home inspection report which we share). You might also like an interview I did with Hire an Inspector. I've bought so many houses personally and ran a handyman business for years, so it was fun to step back and think about the home inspection process.
PS Our most popular article on home inspection is After the Home Inspection, Who Does What?
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