What actually happens during a home inspection? It depends who you ask. Home inspectors are called upon every day to look at properties, but what do their moms, clients and the rest of the world think they do? “What is a Home Inspector?” is a funny video that answers that question from a variety of perspectives.
People often have different ideas about how a home inspector’s job gets done. Whether helping keep people safe from electrical fires, pointing out signs of water damage or confirming that a certain home is a wise investment, this profession is full of hard-working professionals. This entertaining, meme-inspired video takes a comedic look at what they do and don’t do!
McKissock, the creator of the video series, is a trusted resource for state-specific, state-approved, engineering, land surveying and home inspection courses, regulation information and compliance. This video is aimed at home inspection professionals who can laugh at the different perceptions of their career; check it out at http://youtu.be/JTS4X-k94Ds.
“Home inspectors deserve a lot of respect for the hard work they do every day to help us stay safe and warm. But they also deserve a good laugh,” says Annie Creek, Business Development Manager for McKissock. “We love this series of videos because, no matter the career, we all have inside jokes about what we do – and won’t ever do!” In many states, home inspectors are required to hold a state license and keep up their continuing education. Because rules and regulations vary across the country, it can be confusing to know what the home inspector requirements are for license renewal, including how long it will take, what forms are needed and the related fees. McKissock serves as a comprehensive resource about continuing education requirements and more. For license- and education-related questions, contact 1-800-328-2008.
For busy home inspectors who need a reminder for license renewal (because they are too busy saving cats and babies or inspecting cellars as you will see in the video), McKissock offers a free reminder service that will notify you when your license renewal date is approaching. Visit http://reminder.mckedu.com to sign up.
“Professionals have enough on their plate, so we provide reminders, coursework and compliance information and serve as an ally,” adds Creek. “We have a deep understanding of the lives of people who spend a lot of time in the field and don’t want to be concerned about license deadlines and paperwork.”
McKissock has affiliations directly with many associations to better assist professionals in receiving their continuing education credits. For those with a home inspector job, McKissock has met the standards and requirements of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI) and the California Real Estate Inspection Association (CREIA).
From the McKissock website, state-licensed professionals have access to all they need to fulfill state requirements. We offer governing agency information and mandatory topics needed for license renewal; visit today and you can begin taking required coursework immediately. McKissock offers customizable packages or individual professional engineer, land surveying and home inspector courses. For more information, visit www.mckissock.com and search for your specific profession and location.
inspector (5)
McKissock, a leader in continuing education, reveals its top-ranking land surveyor and home inspector courses, with ethics/standards and water rights coming out on top. McKissock determined these rankings by looking at its five-star rating system, which allows all class attendees to provide feedback on the courses. Read the most recent course reviews and rankings at www.mckissock.com.
McKissock is a trusted resource for the most up-to-date regulation and compliance information. An approved education provider in almost every state, McKissock offers required state-specific courses that home inspection and land surveying professionals need to keep their licenses current.
“We take student input seriously and actively use our rating system and comments sections to improve course material or make other changes,” says Annie Creek, Business Development Manager at McKissock. “Customer satisfaction is a hallmark of our business and we appreciate the feedback. We are proud of how many courses rank highly and strive for five stars every time.”
These results are purely based on user-generated star ratings, not taking into consideration the number of people who have taken the course or their availability.
Top home inspection courses include:
- American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice – 4.60 stars
- Home Inspection Safety – 4.54 stars
- Attic Ventilation – 4.54 stars
- Residential Cooling Systems and Heating Pump Inspections – 4.43 stars
- Basic Principles of a Residential Electrical Inspection – 4.37 stars
Top land surveying courses include:
- Water Rights – 4.51 stars
- Utilities - Public and Otherwise – 4.42 stars
- Disputes Between Adjoining Landowners – 4.41 stars
- National Flood Insurance Program: Regulatory Basics for Land Development – 4.41 stars
- Boundaries and Monuments – 4.40 stars
In order to stay compliant with each state board, not all courses are available in every state. However, people who would like to take courses purely for informational purposes may still do so. Feel free to contact Annie Creek at McKissock at annie.creek@mckissock.com if you have any requests or questions.
To highlight the land surveying profession in an entertaining way, McKissock also recently released a meme-inspired video called “What is a Land Surveyor?”. The video takes a humorous look at what people think land surveyors do versus what they actually do on a daily basis.
To learn more about McKissock, visit www.mckissock.com. On the site, you can select a state for information on approved land surveying, engineering and home inspection courses. McKissock offers customizable packages, individual courses, correspondence books (for states that accept them), and a free license renewal reminder service.
McKissock, a leader in continuing education for real estate-related professionals, has outlined five ways to keep home inspectors on the job. Rookies and veterans alike have the same things to consider as the industry changes; this list is applicable for anyone who needs to keep their income flowing. McKissock is a trusted resource for state-specific, state-approved home inspection courses, regulation information and compliance.
The following tips are important home inspector requirements:
1. Don’t Compromise Safety. Although obvious, there are safety precautions that every home inspector should never ignore. It may be as simple as ensuring that you have the correct safety clothing and equipment, but this is the foundation of the home inspection profession.
2. Make sure your license and insurances are up to date. It’s absolutely critical to have a current license and insurance. Even if your state does not require licensing, insurance should be a “must have.” Know your renewal date and schedule continuing education classes early enough so you are not in fear of a license lapse.
3. Know Local Laws and Legislation. Each state and local jurisdiction has their own laws that pertain to the home inspection industry and they do tend to change. Make it your responsibility to understand local laws and ensure you are not putting your license and career in jeopardy.
4. Practice Practical and Successful Reporting. How home inspectors take notes, document findings and present results to clients is of paramount importance. There are always ways to improve these reports and increase the potential for repeat business. In addition, all records need to be maintained as required by state regulations.
5. Stay on Top of New Trends. Whether it is the increase in green building practices, the usage of dangerous construction practices or materials, or any other new construction trends, it’s a home inspector’s duty to know about the latest-and-greatest materials and techniques.
“Home inspectors are busy professionals who provide an important service,” says Annie Creek, New Market and Compliance Specialist at McKissock. “We are committed to helping home inspectors deliver up-to-date knowledge to their customers and have the confidence that they are complying with their state or association’s regulations.”
Some areas that McKissock’s Home Inspection courses cover include:
- Attic Ventilation
- Codes of Ethics and Standards of Practice
- Construction Details and Trends
- Electrical Systems
- Exterior: Walls, Windows, Roof and Foundation
- FHA 203K Inspections
- Foundation and Footing
- Home Energy Inspection
- Home Inspection Safety
- HVAC Ductwork
- Plumbing Cross Connections
- Pools and Spas
- Pre-Drywall and Drywall
- Radon Detection and Mitigation
- Reactive Chinese Drywall
- Reporting
- Residential Cooling Systems and Heating Pumps
From the McKissock website, home inspectors have access to all they need to fulfill state requirements, including governing agency information, and can begin taking required coursework immediately. McKissock offers customizable packages, individual courses and affordable webinars. For more information, visit http://www.mckissock.com.
McKissock, a leader in continuing education for real estate-related professionals, now has more state-specific, state-approved home inspector courses and land surveyor education. From the McKissock website, they have access to all they need to fulfill state requirements, including governing agency information, and can begin taking required coursework immediately. McKissock offers customizable packages, individual courses and webinars that are easy to access and affordable.
In addition to understanding the requirements of state regulatory boards, McKissock has affiliations or communicates directly with associations to help professionals receive continuing education credits. Those associations include: the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), National Association of Home Inspectors, Inc. (NAHI), International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) and California Real Estate Inspection Association (CREIA).
“McKissock’s courses are dependable, accessible, low-cost and compliant, which is the formula for success for busy professionals,” says Annie Creek, New Market and Compliance Specialist at McKissock. “Since each state has different requirements, it’s reassuring to know that McKissock can verify what’s necessary to keep your license from lapsing.”
The state-specific core Home Inspection courses include:
- Connecticut
- Connecticut Home Inspection Laws and Legislation
- Connecticut Home Inspection Laws and Legislation
- Illinois
- Electrical Service Inspections
- Exterior Pre-Drywall Inspection
- Foundation and Footing Construction Inspection
- Interior Pre-Drywall Inspection
- Plumbing Cross Connections
- New Jersey
- Obey the Law: Standards of Practice for New Jersey Home Inspectors
- Nevada
- Nevada Home Inspection Safety for IOS (Inspector of Structures)
- Nevada Home Inspector Law
(Note to Nevada professionals: To renew an active certificate, a certified inspector must complete 20 hours of approved education, including, without limitation: (a) At least 3 hours of instruction on issues relating to the safety of any inhabitants of a structure being inspected and the inspector conducting the inspection; AND (b) At least 2 hours of instruction on the provisions of this chapter (laws) and chapter 645D or NRS.)
The state-specific core Land Surveying courses include:
- Alabama
- Alabama Standards of Practice
- Arkansas
- Standards of Practice for Arkansas Land Surveyors
- Florida
- Florida Minimum Technical Standards and Ethics
- Idaho
- Idaho Minimum Standards of Practice
- Illinois
- Standards of Professional Conduct for Illinois Land Surveyors
- Louisiana
- Minimum Standards for Property Boundary Surveys in Louisiana
- Professional Ethics for Louisiana Land Surveyors and Engineers
- Missouri
- Missouri Minimum Standards
- Mississippi
- Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for Mississippi Land Surveyors and Engineers
- Montana
- Montana Ethics for Land Surveyors
- North Carolina
- Standards of Conduct for Land Surveyors and Professional Engineers in North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Rules of Professional Conduct for North Dakota Land Surveyors and Engineers
- Nebraska
- Standards for Nebraska Land Surveyors
- New Mexico
- New Mexico Ethics and Professional Conduct for Land Surveyors and Engineers
- Ohio
- Standards and Code of Ethics for Ohio Land Surveyors
- Oregon
- Rules of Professional Conduct for Land Surveyors and Engineers in Oregon
- South Carolina
- Rules of Professional Conduct for South Carolina Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
- Wyoming
- Code of Ethics for Wyoming Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
McKissock is an education company that educates, empowers and enriches professionals in real estate, appraisal, home inspection, land surveying and engineering. McKissock gives specialists a place to go to access relevant, easy-to-use and high-quality courses that provide the hours and information necessary to meet state compliance and regulation requirements. Founded in 1990, McKissock offers more than 100 courses and serves thousands of professionals daily. The company is focused on providing a superior customer experience that will help professionals move their career forward. To learn more, visit www.mckissock.com.
Considering the cost of purchasing a home it would make sense that buyers would take necessary precautions to see if the home has any problems. A home inspection can point out any problems, if they even exist. The following list represents some pointers to consider when ordering a home inspection.
Review Credentials of the Inspector
It is wise to choose an inspector with engineering qualifications. The inspection process may discover some problems that would be best suited for an engineer to review. If that is the case, and your home inspector has no engineering certifications, then you could end up paying for the inspection of the home as well as an inspection by an engineer. A Professional Engineer designation is offered by the state and governed by a state board as well. You may ask for the inspector's designation before hiring him or her to look at your home.
Be Part of the Inspection
Do your best to coordinate the inspection with time that you are free. These inspections will typically last one to two hours. Going along to look at the home can give you a chance to see the home through the inspector's eyes. While it is a given that you will receive a copy of the report, and hopefully accompanying pictures, being present when the home is reviewed will allow you to hear and see the inspector's reaction to the condition of the home. It will also give the inspector a chance to actually show you an area of concern and perhaps provide some suggestions for how the issue can be resolved.
If Something is Confusing, Ask Questions
Home inspectors are trained professionals. They understand the structure of a home along with its working systems such as the plumbing, electrical and heating/air conditioning system. This means that the inspector may use terms foreign to you. Ask the inspector to explain any observation or issue that you do not understand. Buying a home does not mean that you have to be as knowledgeable as a general home builder. However, you should feel comfortable that the home is safe for living and that there are no immediate problems demanding expensive repair. Conversely, if the home is in need of serious repair and you have the ability or resources to fix it then you could negotiate with the seller to lower the home's price.
It is important to try and remain impartial about the home inspection. If the inspector finds some significant problems that will require a great deal of work and expense to rectify then it may be wise to consider buying a different home. However, it is also a good idea to remain rational. If you are looking at a previously owned home then you should expect that the home is not perfect and may need attention in a few areas. Just like buying a used car can mean saving some money in place of some small sacrifices, getting a used home can save many buyers some money if they are not afraid of doing a little clean up and some simple projects like a little painting or wallpapering.
Tips on your first Home Inspection - Original Post
Wisconsin Short Sales
