Home Inspections

Spring is almost here, and that means home sales (or so we all hope).  When buying a home, a professional home inspection is an important piece of the process.  Who are professional home inspectors and what do they do?  How do you find one?  My next few posts will deal with this.  First, some basics.

In the state of Ohio, there are no licensed home inspectors.  In the United States, as of this writing, roughly 30 states require a state license for a home inspector.  So, you live in Ohio, what should you do?  Hire a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors, or ASHI.  ASHI is the oldest professional trade association for home inspectors, founded in 1976 to establish professionalism in the field.  Most all states that develop license programs do so using ASHI's standards of practice and ethics.  ASHI recently established an independent certification process for their inspectors, adding to their credentials.

To become a certified ASHI inspector, a new associate member must take the ASHI standards and ethics exam, take the National Home Inspector Exam, conduct 250 paid inspections (which are audited) and maintain annual continuing education credits.  Many, such as myself, belong to and are active leaders of local chapters that conduct educational class, seminars and meetings.

Simply put, there is no substitute.  If you're in the market for an inspector, choose the best.  The ASHI website can assist you in finding an inspector in your area.

My next post will deal with what to expect from an inspection, and then my last in this series will deal with how to select an inspector.