Step by Step Guide to Become a Certified Home Inspector

In United States, there are millions of home buyers require the services of a certified home inspector. These inspectors are responsible for inspecting each home thoroughly, including the roof, foundation, plumbing and overall condition of the home. Due to the high demand for certified home inspectors in the market, it will be ideal if ones intend to select this profession as their career. Below is the step by step guide to obtain the license for home inspector.

• Check the licensing requirements in your state. Most states require home inspectors to have licenses before they start to perform their tasks. Under state law, home inspectors are required to be at least 18 years and above and they must attend a certain number of hours in home inspection courses.

• Get yourself the home inspector courses. The courses can be obtained, either online or in a traditional classroom setting, from any accredited schools listed in the Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors. Topics such as inspection reporting, interior construction and marketing are often covered.

• After completing the courses, you are then required to sit for the National Home Inspector Examination. The exam questions are related to inspection methods, reporting, building systems and professional practice.

• Upon successful completion, the testing center will issue a score sheet and a certificate of achievement to you

• Submit the necessary documents to your state licensing board in order to get the license. In some states, it is also compulsory for you to obtain insurance before the license is awarded to you

• The final part is to obtain membership with the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). Although it is not compulsory to become a member of the ASHI, obtaining membership from ASHI is beneficial in assisting you to meet the Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics

For more information about certified home inspector and home inspection education, visit HomeInspectionAdvice.com.

Why is Training Essential For Home Inspectors?

Anyone who enters the home inspection field is required by the state regulation to be well trained in this unique discipline. Formal training to become a home inspector is essential. Only with proper training, the home inspectors are able to provide satisfactory detailed inspection reports for the good sake of potential home buyers.

Before you are qualified as a home inspector, the first step you need to take is getting yourself a home inspection training course from an accredited training institution. There are many aspects you need to learn such as how to operate furnaces and heat exchanges, how to test gas and water heaters, electrical and plumbing systems and what to look for on roofs, etc. You need to equip yourself with all the necessary practical knowledge and systematic approach so that you can perform your task efficiently during inspection. By having sufficient training, you are able to increase your credibility in front of your clients by giving professional view.

Besides, you also need to sharpen your skills through training. First of all, you need to be computer literate because you need to prepare your report using specific home inspection software. You must also have excellent written and communication skills as you need to express your evaluation verbally as well as in written form. Your report is essential in deciding a home sale.

Through proper training, you will be exposed to the latest business practices and standards, building methods and legal aspects of the real estate. Since you are a newcomer in home inspection field, you definitely need training to get yourself familiarize with home sales and the real estate market.

Not everyone can claim to be a certified home inspector. It is compulsory for anyone who wants to enter this industry to undergo proper training and pass the state exam. There is no short cut.

For more information about home inspection education and home inspection schools, visit HomeInspectionAdvice.com.

How to Score in the National Home Inspector Examination

The National Home Inspector Examination is currently recognized by 21 states in US for home inspector regulation. It is also a membership requirement by American Society of Home Inspectors, National Association of Home Inspectors and American Institute of Inspectors. For those prospective candidates in home inspection field, it is important for you to get a better understanding about this particular exam in order to pass it with flying colors.

In general, this exam contains 200 multiple-choice questions and the candidates are given four hours to complete the exam. Let's review the outline of the exam to get a clearer picture which areas to be focused when you do your revision. The content includes:

• All sorts of inspection methods
• Reporting Format
• Knowledge about all aspects of the building Systems, which include exterior systems, interior systems, structural systems, roofing systems, electrical systems, heating and cooling systems, insulating and ventilating systems, plumbing systems, and fireplace and chimney systems
• Professional practice

The Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors offers a sample test for the candidates. It is advised that you should purchase the sample test to familiarize yourself with the exam format. Besides, you should also obtain a reference list of text books from the exam board. Set your study schedule and do your revision by referring to the text books suggested in the list. It is a MUST to equip yourself with the practical knowledge and skills before sitting for the exam.

You will be given a score between 200 and 800 and the passing score is 500. Once you complete the exam successfully, the testing center will provide you with a score sheet and a certificate of achievement. You need to submit the score sheet as well as your certificate to your state licensing board in order to get your license.

For more information about certified home inspector and home inspection education, visit HomeInspectionAdvice.com.