Monday Market Update: Can Anyone Really Call Themselves A Home Inspector?

The Bobbi Decker Blog has always been based on the belief that knowledge is power, and today we want to share with you some education and information on what Realtor.com® is calling the ‘home health blind spot.’ We all know that a home inspection is critical to any potential home purchase.

But did you know that California is one of 12 states in the US that does not regulate home inspectors? 

Here are 7 things to know about inspection licensing requirements – or a lack thereof: 

1. Quality home inspections play a critical role in the transparency of the real estate market. As Realtor.com® explains, “A missed structural, electrical, environmental, or mechanical problem can turn a seemingly sound purchase into a financial crisis.”

2. California is one of 12 states that does not require statewide minimums for training, testing, insurance, or continuing education. 

3. While California does not require a home inspector license, home inspectors are regulated to some extent by the California Trade Practice Act as of 1996. 

4. Even in unregulated states, home inspectors are highly encouraged to take National Home Inspector Examination, a 4-hour, 200-question multiple-choice test widely viewed as the industry standard.

5. Buyers may choose to vet their potential home inspectors’ credentials by asking for copies of sample reports, requesting the inspector’s professional history and affiliations and asking about any voluntary credentials or continuing education completed. 

6. Real estate agents play an important role in supporting buyers throughout the inspection process, and sellers when recommending an inspector and completing legally required disclosures of a home's condition.

7. Other key elements of a quality home inspector are training, field experience, time spent at the property, the actual report and communication before, during & after the inspection. Not picking up the phone or returning a call is often a red flag. 

We hope you have some ideas of what a home inspector may and may not be doing to advance their knowledge base or maintain their industry expertise. Un-regulated does not necessarily mean ‘bad,’ but it does mean that the consumer has an added responsibility to know who they are hiring and what they bring to the table.

This article is just a starting point as you conduct your due diligence and talk to your trusted agent about inspection criteria, expertise and quality. 

Cheers to a happy and healthy August,

Bobbi

Bobbi Decker
DRE#00607999

Broker Associate, Bobbi Decker & Associates
650.346.5352 cell
650.577.3127 efax
www.bobbidecker.com
NAR Instructor….“Designations Create Distinctions”
CIPS, SRS, ABR, CRS, SRES, GRI, CLHMS, REI, AHWD, RSPS, MSLG

Bobbi Decker & Associates fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. For more information, please visit: http://portal.hud.gov/