|
|
North American Association of Home Inspectors
 |
16192 Coastal Highway, Lewes, Delaware 19958
|
 |
Resources & Training
Home Inspection Training Companies
If you want to become a home inspector, AHI recommends researching home inspection training companies carefully
as the quality varies widely. Some schools do not offer consumer protection, or do not specialize in home inspector
training. Understand the tuition reimbursement procedure and refund policy before you enroll in any home inspection
training school. Make sure that the home inspection training counts towards any home inspector licensing requirement
in your state including field experience or apprenticeships.
The organizations below are AHI-accredited training providers:
Professional Home Inspection Institute (PHII)*
International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI)
American Society of Home Inspectors School (ASHI)
*Indicates Gold-Level training provider which includes AHI 1-year free membership for graduates
National Non-profit Home Inspector Associations
There are numerous home inspector associations that operate at the state level, some for-profit and some non-profit,
but only a few non-profit home inspector organizations that operate nationally. These include:
The American Society of Home Inspections ASHI
The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors InterNACHI
The North American Association of Home Inspectors AHI
For Iowa and Pennsylvania home inspectors and consumers
AHI conforms with the Iowa and Pennsylvania definition of a national home inspector association as (1) operated
on a not-for-profit basis and not as a franchise; (2) has members in more than ten states; (3) requires 100+ inspections
to become a full member; (4) requires an accredited entrance examination; (5) requires that members comply with
a code of conduct; and (6) requires continuing education for ongoing membership.
It is each home inspector's responsibility to comply with the law and become a full member of a national non-profit
home inspectors association. AHI provides full members with a compliance document to present to clients or Realtors
to verify self-compliance with Iowa SF460 and PA Act 114. Consumer questions or concerns about any inspector's
compliance with these laws should be directed to the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, &
Licensing or the Pennsylvania Bureau of Consumer Protection.
Iowa's Senate File 460 regulates home inspections, including persons authorized to perform home inspections and
requirements for independent home inspection reports. The law does the following:
- Requires home inspectors to be a full member of a national non-profit home inspector association and adhere
to the association's standards and code of ethics.
- Prohibits conflicts of interest for home inspectors, including performing repairs on a property they inspected
within the preceding12 months.
- Establishes penalties for violation of the Bill, which are considered unfair practices and may result in civil
penalties up to $40,000.
- Requires home inspection reports to be in writing and to include specific elements, such as the scope of the
inspection and a list of material defects. Failure to meet these requirements may result in a simple misdemeanor,
punishable by a fine of up to $500.
- Restricts the disclosure of home inspection reports and limits cost estimates unless they include a specified
source and range of costs.
- Requires home inspectors to maintain liability insurance with minimum coverage of $100,000 per occurrence and
$500,000 in total. Failure to meet this requirement or falsely claiming to be a home inspector may result in a
simple misdemeanor for a first offense and a serious misdemeanor for subsequent offenses. Penalties may range from
fines to confinement.
Pennsylvania Title 68 Chapter 75 regulates home inspections, including persons authorized to perform home inspections
and requirements for independent home inspection reports. The law does the following:
- Requires home inspectors to be a full member of a national non-profit home inspector association and adhere
to the association's standards and code of ethics.
- Prohibits conflicts of interest for home inspectors, including performing repairs on a property they inspected
within the preceding 12 months.
- Establishes penalties for violation of section 7510, which may result in civil penalties up to $5,000.
- Requires home inspection reports to be in writing and to include specific elements, such as the scope of the
inspection and a list of material defects. Failure to meet these requirements may result in a simple misdemeanor,
punishable by a fine of up to $500.
- Restricts the disclosure of home inspection reports and limits cost estimates unless they include a specified
source and range of costs.
- Requires home inspectors to maintain liability insurance with minimum coverage of $100,000 per occurrence and
$500,000 in total with deductibles of not more than $2,500. Failure to meet this requirement or falsely claiming
to be a home inspector is a summary offense with a fine not exceeding $500 or to imprisonment for not more than
three months, or both. Subsequent offense commits a third-degree misdemeanor with a fine of $2,000 to $5,000 or
to imprisonment for not less than one year but not more than two years, or both.
Home Inspection Links
First Indemnity Insurance - Insurance for
professional home inspectors.
InspectorPro Insurance - Insurance for professional
home inspectors.
Home Inspection Report Software - Flexible
cloud-based software for home inspectors.
|
