While some states require you to have a license to perform jobs such as home inspection, home remodeling and many of the other building trades some do not. In Texas you must be licensed to be a home inspector while in Colorado you do not have to hold any such license. It is important that you understand the differences, and that when searching for a home inspector, or contractor, you gather some important information and ask the proper questions before hiring someone.
In Colorado you are not required to have a license, be certified or even carry insurance to be a home inspector. This is also true for a remodeling contractor. There are those though that choose to become licensed contractors for several reasons. The most important of these is that it legitimizes them to their clients. To legitimize yourself in the Home Inspection business instead of licensing you become Certified.
Certification
As with a contractor, and their contractor’s license, a Home Inspectors Certification provides their client, or prospective client, with the assurance that they have put more effort into becoming a Home Inspector than just hanging out a shingle. The majority of people in the Home Inspection industry have had vast experience in the building trades. They have generally come from some industry with a construction background, and have ventured off into the position of business owner as a Home Inspector.
All of the good, legitimate, Home Inspectors that I know have some type of Certification. There are numerous institutions to obtain certification through. A few of these are NACHI, ASHI and NAHI. Each of these institutions has different requirements for certification, and each provide different benefits for their members, but they all have the same pretense in mind. In order for you to become an Affiliate of theirs you must pass a test and meet their standard requirements. On top of this you must continue to meet their Continuing Education Requirements as well.
The continuing education part is of extreme importance. As stated before, most Home Inspectors have years of experience in the residential construction industry, however they should continue to learn as the construction industry changes. Whether this education is acquired on a computer, or in a classroom it should be acquired. Most organizations require that a minimum amount of CE hours be completed every year to remain an affiliate.
Insurance
While it is not a requirement, in some states, to carry E&O and General Liability Insurance, most Home Inspectors will. They spend large amounts of money each year on insurance premiums. The professional Home Inspector does not only carry this insurance to cover them, but they do it as a courtesy to their customers to make them feel better about hiring them to perform the inspection. This is also another means of legitimizing themselves.
So, when searching for a Home Inspector, either for your self or to refer to a client, make certain that you take the time to learn about them. Ask them about their experience in the field. How many years have they been performing inspections? What is their background? What type of Certification do they hold, or with what organization? Do they have proof of Certification? Are they insured? What types of inspection services do they provide?
Remember, the more knowledge you can gain, the more confident you are going to be that you made the right choice.
Chuck Forman has more than 30 years in the residential home construction industry. He is an InterNACHI Certified Home Inspector in the Denver Colorado Metro area. He is also a Certified Indoor Air Consultant. You can learn more about Chuck, and his company Forman Inspection Services, LLC by going to his website at www.FormanInspectionServices.com
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