Home Inspection Certification: More Than Meets the Eye

Home inspection certification can be confusing for consumers to understand because there are many ways for a home inspector to get certified. To help you inspect the inspector, HouseMaster -- one of the most experienced home inspection companies -- offers tips on navigating through the maze of certification standards.

Home inspection certification is undoubtedly a strong asset when evaluating a home inspector; however, not all certifications are the same. Quite often, certification consists of membership in an organization, a set number of unregulated home inspections, and a one-time test that’s good for the life of the membership. However, this does not guarantee regular, annual refresher training or testing.

Home inspectors should be trained and certified by a recognized, national organization, like the National Institute of Building Inspectors (NIBI®), which holds some of the most stringent requirements for home inspection certification. To keep current with the latest building trends and maintain their NIBI® certification, HouseMaster home inspectors receive regular training and are tested annually.

Organizations like NIBI, establish standards that meet and often exceed other types of home inspection certification and even state licensing requirements. Therefore, consumers should look beyond the quantity of certifications for a home inspector and focus more on the quality of certain certifications.

Finally, while certification is important, also remember to ask more questions about the home inspection services offered such as any written guarantees, inspector professionalism, the type of inspection report included in the service, and any additional consumer resources available to clients. Once you have a total picture of the services and qualifications, you can make the most informed decision possible.