Home inspection is a great way to increase your knowledge about the properties you visit. You can learn things like what materials are used in homes, what kind of features are present, and how they’re integrated.
When you go home inspection, you want to see how the house is constructed, what features are present, and know if it is adequate or necessary. These insights can change the way you choose a place to live.
Home inspection is most commonly done by licensed professionals such as inspectors or builders agents. The difference being that an inspector looks at a property from every angle while the builder agent works with a client to create a plan.
This article will talk about ways for individuals without professional backgrounds to become home inspectors.
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Get certified by the American Home Inspectors Association (AHIA)
Becoming an American Home Inspector (AHI) is a process that starts with a one-day, intensive course taught by an AHIA professional. After this course, you are eligible to become an American Home Inspector and begin offering home inspections.
After passing the AHI certification exam, you can begin working as an AHI. However, you will need to take the new exam every year to remain certified.
There are two main parts to the AHI certification test. The first part looks at specific inspection tools and techniques and the second looks at written testing. Both parts must be passed for continued certification.
While being an AHI does not require being licensed or having a license, it does require being knowledgeable about buildings and equipment.
Get licensed by the state of Ohio
Once you are an inspector, you can start working as a home inspector in Ohio. It is illegal to become an amateur home inspector by going to courses and then having the ability to do the course work in the field. You must get a license from the state of Ohio to begin working as a home inspector.
There are several ways to get a license as a home inspector in Ohio. You can go through a national or local organization, apply directly to the state, or combine both options.
When doing your application, be detailed in your reports and able to give confidence measures. Being able to tell other homesitters and inspectors what things are like and how safe their house is is a big part of becoming an expert home inspector in Ohio.
Get experience performing home inspections
Before becoming a home inspector in Ohio, you should get experience with other inspections such as the National Inspections Guidelines for Safety in the Home. You can also get experience by working as a contractor inspecting homes for additional training is available.
The best way to learn new things is through education. Attend seminars and workshops where you can receive education on home inspection techniques and how to use standardized homes for inspection.
Scheduling inspections when people are present is another way to get experience. Set up a few households in your home inspection studio or office that are all living at different levels and take a few homes each day. You will be looking for things like water leaks, smoke/smell problems, and safe living conditions.
Create a business plan
You can become an Ohio home inspector by running a business model that is profitable and successful. You must have a high marketable skill set for this to work, so do some research into what it takes to become an Ohio home inspector.
There are many resources for aspiring home inspectors including blogs, Facebook groups, and YouTube channels. All of these sources will be valuable in helping you develop your skills as an inspector.
If you don’t have any experience as a home inspector, you can still enter the business by becoming an inspiration for others who need help with their inspection. You can also find jobs through state licensing agencies or through recruitment websites like jobevolution.
Find clients
Once you’ve created your home inspection account, the next step is to start finding clients. Clients can be anyone, from a family member or friend who needs a home inspection to a large company that can provide quality service.
To begin finding clients, navigate to the client portal and search by area of need. People with homes similar to yours should display similar conditions and repairs. For example, if your home appears in good condition but the owner has never had an inspector check it out before, you may want to work with someone who has!
Once you find people who need an inspector, they can book an appointment via the portal. You can also call them if you have time and they can come at a reasonable time!
Being able to provide high-quality services makes becoming an independent home inspector accessible for people.
Keep accurate records
As a home inspector, you will need to be able to explain what you see when you look at a home. This includes explaining any signs of damage or problems that may occur.
You will also need to be able to explain what these problems may be and how they affect the homeowner. For example, a water issue in the home could mean a shower or bathtub problem may be an indication of water damage or poor quality plumbing.
As a home inspector, you will also need to be able to explain what issues appear normal and what issues require immediate attention. Often, when issues are needed immediately, there is no money available to fix them.
Meet building code requirements
Even if you are not currently required to become a home inspector in Ohio, it is worth knowing the building code requirements for inspectors. In fact, becoming an approved home inspector in Ohio is very profitable and interesting work.
As a home inspector in Ohio, you will typically be asked to report problems in homes they inspect. This includes reporting any problems with the exterior of the house, roof condition, water heater issues, electrical issues, and anything else related to the house.
In order to become an approved home inspector in Ohio, you must pass a certification test. The test can be taken by either current or new inspectors. After passing the test and receiving a Certificate of Qualification from the National Council of Home Inspections (NCHIU), an individual can begin working as an independent home inspection.
Know federal requirements for home inspections
If you’re planning a home inspection in Ohio, be ready to discuss federal requirements. There are specific requirements for home inspections in most areas, and your inspector can tell you if they are met in your area.
In order to do a federal inspection, your inspector will look at a variety of things, including: electrical systems, plumbing systems, doors, heating and cooling units, and any other features or decorations.
Any one of these items can have a big effect on the person moving into the home, such as moving facilities or an increase in guests per days of use. Since someone could possibly be living or eating with major modifications could cause concern.
It is very important that people get a federal inspection before signing anything off as guaranteed. Any problems found during the inspection should be noted down so changes can be addressed.