Comments on: Home inspections – A good investment

By: Luigi Fulk

Luigi Fulk — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 02:08:19 +0000

Thanks for a good post. It really reinforces the need to make sure you are prepared when buying or selling a home. As you know a home inspection can make the difference in a smooth transition and a total financial disaster.

By: home inspection sparta

home inspection sparta — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:51:58 +0000

Excellent article. I will bookmark your site.

By: home inspection sussex county

home inspection sussex county — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:36:00 +0000

Sorry if this is a little off topic but this is for Ted at his request: Anyone entering the home inspection field should be trained in the unique discipline of home inspection. Assuming that the home inspector has been properly trained and has sufficient experience, they should be able to provide a satisfactory detailed inspection of a property within the scope of their education and any home inspector licensing requirements. Where licensing or certification is not a requirement, anyone can claim to be a home inspector, and there are no laws to prevent them from doing so. Basically watch your butt!—————————You’re welcome. William, -the Inspector Guy

By: home inspection new jersey

home inspection new jersey — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:09:45 +0000

I agree with everything that you are saying here. really interesting blog !!

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:47:04 +0000

Claude,

Thank you for your insights and I totally agree with you that more regulatory oversight would help with the reputation of the home inspection industry. I encourage my clients to ask for credentials and what if questions with regards to accountability. Please keep us posted on the progress in your industry and licensing.

Thanks again for your comments.

Chris MacLeod

By: Claude Lawrenson

Claude Lawrenson — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 01:18:33 +0000

Thank you Chris good commentary. Although I agree in principle with your recommendation there is one significant problem in hiring a home inspector. Really there are many more, but I will note the most significant – lack of control (accountability). By that I refer to the fact that anyone can hand out their business cards and call themself a home inspector, except in BC. BC home inspectors require a license as of March 2009, and certain background requirements must be fulfilled to practice there.

As a former home inspector I know there are some experienced practioners out there, but a very limited few have undergone any valid form of testing and peer review. CMHC offers sound advice in their publication “Hiring A Home Inspector”. It is readily available through web search.

That same publication sums up their recommendation about one of the best – the National Certificate Holder. To that end I am now on the other side of home inspection as an educator and policy maker doing administration and “certification” work taking a serious action towards professionlizing the home inspection sector. As such I serve in a number of capacities such as Chair of the National Certification Program for Home Inspectors.

Licensing in Ontario was a topic of discussion in a PHPIO (Professional Home & Property Inspectors of Ontario) meeting held this summer in London. It had a panel of professional that includes the Real Estate community (OREA and CREA), BBB, a provincial government representative, mortgage industry as well as a real estate lawyer. The next meeting will take place in Peterborough, and later this year in Ottawa and Toronto. The meeting went extremely well. It’s purpose mainly fact finding and see if there is an appetite for some form of “regulation” for the home inspection sector.

In closing licensing may not be the cure all – but certainly some form of regulation is required to assure that the public – aka: consumers are provided with qualified home inspectors. As I stated earlier I agree in the principle of getting a home inspection, and especially supported by the Realtor, but consumers need to be made aware that problems can a do happen. Will that inspector be there if problems arise and who can this reflect upon if something serious goes wrong?