Is your home inspector blind?

Licensing of home inspectors only sets a minimum standard. Much like being up to code, any less would be illegal. Under this low bar, imaginary people, children, psychics (who claim to "sense" if a house is OK), pets, and even the blind can be home inspectors. Other home inspection associations have no entrance requirements and, worse, encourage their associates to go out and perform actual inspections for poor, unsuspecting consumers as the only way to achieve full membership. InterNACHI finds this practice unconscionable. We turn down more than 60% of the inspectors who want to join InterNACHI because they can't pass our exam, and we turn down 90% of those left because they can't fulfill our membership requirements.

CLICK HERE to see a comparison of association requirements.

InterNACHI inspectors:

must pass InterNACHI's Online Inspector Examination in order to join, and every year of membership, with a score of 80 or better. (This general exam, which is not association-specific, is open and free to all.)
must complete InterNACHI's online Ethics Obstacle Course. (This Ethics course is open and free to all.)
must take InterNACHI's online Standards of Practice Quiz . (This open-book Standards of Practice quiz is open and free to all.)
must sign and submit an Affidavit.
must adhere to InterNACHI's Standards of Practice.
must abide by InterNACHI's Code of Ethics.
must continue learning by taking courses (24 hours per year), per InterNACHI's Continuing Education Policy.
must maintain their Online Member Continuing Education Log (free), per InterNACHI's Continuing Education Policy.
must submit four mock inspections (if the inspector has never performed a home inspection for a fee) to InterNACHI's Report Review Committee (free) before performing their first fee-paid home inspection for a client.
must apply for a membership photo I.D. (free) within the 10 days after joining.
must log in to NACHIs educational message board within 10 days after joining.
must complete InterNACHI's comprehensive online Safe Practices course (free), including all the quizzes, within 30 days after joining.
must complete InterNACHI's comprehensive online Residential Standards of Practice course (free) within 30 days after joining.
must complete InterNACHI's online 25 Standards Every Inspector Should Know course (free) and pass its final exam within 30 days after joining.
must complete InterNACHI's comprehensive online Plumbing course (free), including all the quizzes within, and pass its final exam within 45 days after joining.
must complete InterNACHI's comprehensive online Electrical course (free), including all the quizzes within, and pass its final exam within 45 days after joining.
must complete InterNACHI's comprehensive online Roofing course (free), including all the quizzes within, and pass its final exam within 45 days after joining.
must complete InterNACHI's comprehensive online HVAC course (free), including all the quizzes within, and pass its final exam within 60 days after joining.
must complete InterNACHI's online Structural course (free) within 60 days after joining.
must complete InterNACHI's comprehensive online Exterior Inspection course (free), including all the quizzes within, and pass its final exam within 60 days after joining.
must complete InterNACHI's comprehensive online Attic, Insulation, Ventilation and Interior Inspection course (free), including all the quizzes within, and pass its final exam within 90 days after joining.
must complete InterNACHI's comprehensive online Deck Inspections course (free), including all the quizzes within, and pass its final exam within 90 days after joining.
must complete InterNACHI's comprehensive online Moisture Intrusion Inspection course (free), including all the quizzes within, and pass its final exam within 90 days after joining.
must re-take and pass InterNACHI's Online Inspector Examination again, every year (free).
must complete InterNACHI's online Green Building course (free), including all quizzes within, and pass its final exam within one year after joining.
must complete InterNACHI's comprehensive online Wood-Destroying Organism course (free), including all the quizzes within, and pass its final exam, within two years after joining.
must complete InterNACHI's online Mold Inspection course (free), including all quizzes within, and pass its final exam within two years after joining.
must complete InterNACHI's online Inspecting Foundation Walls and Piers course (free), including all quizzes within, and pass its final exam within two years of joining.
must complete InterNACHI's online Energy Audit course (free), including all the quizzes, and pass its final exam within three years of joining.
must complete InterNACHI's online Log Home course (free), including all the quizzes, and pass its final exam within three years of joining.
must complete InterNACHI's online Log Home course (free), including all quizzes within, and pass its final exam within three years after joining.
must complete InterNACHI's online Radon Measurement Service Provider course (free) including all quizzes within, and pass its final exam within three years after joining.
must complete InterNACHI's online Commercial Inspection course (free), including all quizzes within, and pass its final exam within three years after joining.
must complete at least eight hours of advanced (or beyond) Standards of Practice coursework within three years after joining (reasonable exceptions apply).
must attend at least one chapter meeting or educational seminar within three years after joining (reasonable exceptions apply).

So, the next time you need to refer your clients to home inspectors, make sure they are members of InterNACHI, and never use a candidate or associate of any association. InterNACHI is America's elite home inspection association.

CLICK HERE to see a comparison of association requirements.

Look for the consumer certification verification seal.

3 Deadly Mistakes every Home Buyer should avoid! or http://www.nachi.org/3mistakes.htm

Why pay a little more for an InterNACHI-certified inspector?

UPDATE: InterNACHI protects consumers by raising the bar again.

Inspection excellence through Continuing Education

Find a certified Inspector.

REALTORs should also print "What Really Matters" and include copies of this article in their buyer's packets.

REALTORs should read about the advantages of pre-listing inspections.

REALTORs can receive the world's greatest mouse pad with a gel wrist rest for FREE.

REALTORs can install the inspector search icon on their desktop .

REALTORs can also order their free issue of REAL Property Times.