Consumers Protected by American Society of Home Inspectors
by Michael Quinn, President of Heritage Inspection Services, Inc.

The purchase of a home represents the largest single investment most Americans make in their lifetime. Yet surprisingly, the majority of people still buy "on impulse," basing their selection on the aesthetic appeal of the house, rather than a knowledge of its physical condition.

Years ago, homebuyers had little opportunity to determine the condition of their intended purchase before making a commitment. Very often, families would learn about a home's true condition only after moving in and having to spend thousands of dollars on unanticipated repairs.

Recently, homebuyers have been turning more and more to the services of a professional home inspector. For a fee, this house generalist will carefully examine the major systems and components of a home and report to a prospective buyer which, if any, repairs are necessary. The buyer then has the option of (a) requiring the seller to make the repairs or reduce his price, (b) budgeting his or her own finances to accommodate the added expenses, or (c) looking for another house.

To ensure these options, however, the buyer must be certain that the sales contract contains a clause that makes the purchase contingent on a professional home inspection.

The home inspection profession, now almost 20 years old in some areas, has never been regulated by any State or Federal agencies, and the standards and methods of inspection, especially in the early years, varied greatly. Some inspectors, for example, gave only favorable reports in order to secure future referrals from real estate agents. Sometimes inspectors used the home inspections as a means to build their repair or remodeling business. Some inspectors simply didn't have the knowledge or experience.

In 1976 a small group of professional home inspectors, dissatisfied with the lack of standardized technical and ethical practices, formed the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). Their, goals were to establish formal inspection and reporting guidelines, to create and uphold a professional code of ethics, and to provide consumers with an assurance of quality and professionalism.

Today ASHI, with over 40 U.S. and Canadian chapters, has raised the Profession's standards and reputation higher than ever. ASHI's requirements for membership are rigorous, including the performance of at least 250 paid professional home inspections, and the successful completion of written exams which test the applicant's knowledge of building systems and components, report writing and ASHI Standards, and the diagnosis of building defects. Since changes in technology and in the residential real estate market place occur almost daily, ASHI Members are required to participate in a number of continuing education programs, provided at the organization's national and Chapter levels.

To eliminate any possible conflict of interest, ASHI's Code of Ethics forbids members from endorsing any contractors for specific repair work recommended in an inspection, or from doing the work themselves.

The ASHI Standards of Practice, which define professional home inspection, include an inspection of the central heating and air conditioning systems, interior plumbing and electrical systems, roofing, insulation, ventilation, walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, and the foundation (i.e. crawl space or basement). Many ASHI inspectors provide helpful maintenance tips, as well , to guide home buyers in the proper care of their new home. Above all, if the inspector is a Certified Member of ASHI, he or she has proven qualifications to perform a professional home inspection.

Home buyers who are interested in contacting an ASHI home inspector may contact the American Society of Home Inspectors at 85 West Algonquin Road, Suite 360, Arlington Heights, IL 60005-4423 or 800-743-2744 for the names of the ASHI inspectors nearest them. You can also visit their web site at : www.ashi.com