HouseMaster: Industry Professionals You Can Trust
House Inspection Certification Is Just the Beginning

When you are buying or selling a home, you want your house inspection provider to be certified, but what does house inspection certification mean? This can vary by area, but it's basically a set of training requirements established by an industry organization and/or a state government institution. Of course, consumers want their home inspector to be certified, particularly in states that require it, but consumers shouldn't stop there. State licensing or certification is only a baseline standard. Much more goes into inspector excellence.

Beyond House Inspection Certification
Once you verify that your house inspection company has licensed/certified inspectors, ask a few more questions about the inspector's qualifications. Be prepared to ask whether the house inspection company has a continuing education program for its inspectors. Are they annually tested and re-certified? Such regular re-certification ensures that the inspectors are up-to-date on the latest developments and technical components of a home.

Furthermore, just because some inspectors have construction experience doesn't automatically mean that they are the most qualified to conduct a house inspection. Specific house inspection training ensures consumers will get the most thorough and detailed inspection possible.

Don't Forget about Service
In addition to house inspection certification and proper, ongoing training, there are some service conveniences that a good home inspection company should provide to help make your life a bit easier. Once you establish certification qualifications, consider asking about online upload of your inspection report so you can easily access your report anytime, anywhere. Plus, you can share your report with key advisors like real estate agents, attorneys and family members.

Also ask about follow-up procedures. How can you get in touch with the inspector if you have questions about the completed report? Does the inspection company stand behind their work and provide some type of guarantee about the accuracy of their inspection reports? Do they offer any helpful information or materials to help you better understand the house inspection process as a whole?

When you're dealing with a huge investment like a house, careful considerations will make the difference between a difficult and positive experience down the line. Make sure that the company that you hire is up to date on their house inspection certification.