A Career in Home Inspection - Proper Training Is The Key
Simply put, the job of a home inspector involves the visual inspection of a property, including its structure, basic systems, right from its foundation to the roof.
Home inspection includes having a look at the attic, roof, walls, floors, ceilings, visible insulation, doors, windows, basement, internal plumbing and drainage, electrical systems, air conditioning and heating, chimneys and fireplaces.
An inspector's job is to put his experience and sense of judgment to assess the systems and mechanisms installed in the property and report if they could be expected to perform as per expectations, as well as point out the flaws, if any, which could have negative effects on the property's worth or if they could harm the occupants of the property.
As an inspector, you are not to carry the inspection of areas having difficult access.
Nor should you expose your life to any risks or guess on the working life of the systems and mechanisms already installed.
Once you qualify as a home inspector, one thing that you should always bear in mind is "liability.
" The decision of the prospective home buyer, whether to buy that property or not, largely depends on your report.
You should appreciate that they depend on your proficiency to notify them of the state of affairs, which might involve the safety of the occupants as also the expense of ownership.
It is your responsibility to ascertain that the buyer is not taken by undesirable surprises after they have closed the deal.
Should you happen to overlook any serious defect during the course of your inspection, the purchaser could ask you to compensate them after the closure of the deal.
And mind you, home inspectors, especially the newer ones, tend to miss some defect or the other.
If you missed something inexpensive, it may not matter, but what if you overlook a key defect like inappropriate foundation, faulty air conditioning or heating, an important drainage or roofing problem? It is under such circumstances that home inspectors wonder why, of all other professions, they chose the present one.
Now that you are somewhat familiar with the profession of a home inspector, and you continue to be keen to pursue that, here are some pieces of advice for you that could help your career: 1- Join an introductory course of home inspection with a well-recognized institute.
This will introduce you to the essentials of getting started.
2- Having finished your course, get a membership with a known association of home inspectors, like the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI).
Their monthly meetings are very educational and their yearly education conventions are necessary for maintaining your professional standards as a home inspector.
3- The best way to get some hands down experience is to look for an experienced home inspector who is willing to take you along for a couple of home inspections.
This way you will get familiar with the necessary procedures followed for home inspection.
You'll also learn how to give the details of your findings to home buyers or their agents, as a result of inspection.
4- Try getting the maximum possible knowledge concerning the codes for residential buildings.
It will help you a lot if you can join a college offering courses in these codes.
You'll also benefit by getting copies of the Code Check, which are available online.
That's how you get the best condensed edition of the building codes that you can get.
Having a successful career as a home inspector depends mainly on two factors.
The factors that matter the most are how well you are equipped at the time of entering this profession, and how well you keep yourself updated and educated with your subject while continuing with your business.
Home inspection includes having a look at the attic, roof, walls, floors, ceilings, visible insulation, doors, windows, basement, internal plumbing and drainage, electrical systems, air conditioning and heating, chimneys and fireplaces.
An inspector's job is to put his experience and sense of judgment to assess the systems and mechanisms installed in the property and report if they could be expected to perform as per expectations, as well as point out the flaws, if any, which could have negative effects on the property's worth or if they could harm the occupants of the property.
As an inspector, you are not to carry the inspection of areas having difficult access.
Nor should you expose your life to any risks or guess on the working life of the systems and mechanisms already installed.
Once you qualify as a home inspector, one thing that you should always bear in mind is "liability.
" The decision of the prospective home buyer, whether to buy that property or not, largely depends on your report.
You should appreciate that they depend on your proficiency to notify them of the state of affairs, which might involve the safety of the occupants as also the expense of ownership.
It is your responsibility to ascertain that the buyer is not taken by undesirable surprises after they have closed the deal.
Should you happen to overlook any serious defect during the course of your inspection, the purchaser could ask you to compensate them after the closure of the deal.
And mind you, home inspectors, especially the newer ones, tend to miss some defect or the other.
If you missed something inexpensive, it may not matter, but what if you overlook a key defect like inappropriate foundation, faulty air conditioning or heating, an important drainage or roofing problem? It is under such circumstances that home inspectors wonder why, of all other professions, they chose the present one.
Now that you are somewhat familiar with the profession of a home inspector, and you continue to be keen to pursue that, here are some pieces of advice for you that could help your career: 1- Join an introductory course of home inspection with a well-recognized institute.
This will introduce you to the essentials of getting started.
2- Having finished your course, get a membership with a known association of home inspectors, like the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI).
Their monthly meetings are very educational and their yearly education conventions are necessary for maintaining your professional standards as a home inspector.
3- The best way to get some hands down experience is to look for an experienced home inspector who is willing to take you along for a couple of home inspections.
This way you will get familiar with the necessary procedures followed for home inspection.
You'll also learn how to give the details of your findings to home buyers or their agents, as a result of inspection.
4- Try getting the maximum possible knowledge concerning the codes for residential buildings.
It will help you a lot if you can join a college offering courses in these codes.
You'll also benefit by getting copies of the Code Check, which are available online.
That's how you get the best condensed edition of the building codes that you can get.
Having a successful career as a home inspector depends mainly on two factors.
The factors that matter the most are how well you are equipped at the time of entering this profession, and how well you keep yourself updated and educated with your subject while continuing with your business.