HPI FAQs

Make an Informed Choice About Your Home Inspection Career

question-1426810__180Here’s a list of frequently asked questions about home and property inspection – We offer both classroom and webinar training. If you have any additional questions, give us a call at 1-877-LICENSE (542-3673). A helpful representative is available to assist you with all of your learning needs.

What is a home inspection?

A home inspection is an objective visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a house, from the roof to the foundation.

Why do customers need a home inspection?

The purchase of a home is probably the largest single investment they will ever make. They should learn as much as you can about the condition of the property and the need for any major repairs before they buy, so that they can minimize unpleasant surprises and difficulties afterwards.

Of course, a home inspection also points out the positive aspects of a home, as well as the maintenance that will be necessary to keep it in good shape. After the inspection, they will have a much clearer understanding of the property they are about to purchase.

A home inspection may be used to identify problems in the making and to learn preventive measures which might avoid costly future repairs. If a customer is planning to sell their home, you may wish to have an inspection prior to placing the home on the market. This will give them a better understanding of conditions which may be discovered by the buyer’s inspector, and an opportunity to make repairs that will put the house in better selling condition.

Also, banks, lenders, realtors, and property management companies require license home inspections.

What does a home inspection include?

The standard home inspector’s report will cover the condition of the home’s heating system; central air conditioning system; interior plumbing and electrical systems; the roof, attic and visible insulation; walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors; the foundation, basement and structural components. It also includes the property and outbuildings.

Do I need a college degree or any License?

No / Yes. You do not need a college degree to become a home inspector. Becoming a home inspector through the Inspection Institute is an excellent option for those who want to get into a growing industry and enjoy a solid career, but who don’t have a college degree. Note that some states require that you pass an exam to become licensed (Florida)

Do I need industry experience?

While basic experience in construction or home building helps, it is by no means a prerequisite to become a home inspector. All you need is an interest in working in the housing and real estate industry, and home inspection training to know what to look for during real estate home inspections.

In order to obtain a license in Florida you must have 120 classroom hours of training, with 20 of those hours in the field do an inspection and pass a proctored exam.

Do I need to belong to one of those expensive associations?

Absolutely NOT! Anyone that uses scare tactics to make you pay them are not worth joining. They show their “Ethical Standards” right up front. They are only voluntary certifications. After joining the school you become an automatic member of the nationally recognized ACICP. (The Association of Construction Industry Certified Professionals)

What are the employment options for home inspectors?

Home inspectors have a solid set of career options, thanks in part to the flexibility that conducting a real estate home inspection offers. This is no 9-to-5, sit-behind-a-desk-all-day, and report-to-a-boss job. Home Inspectors set their own schedules, and have plenty of options. While some home inspectors opt to work full time for a home inspection company, even more opt to branch out on their own and create their own lucrative home inspection careers where the opportunities are limitless.

Most home sales require a home inspection, and real estate agents, brokers, and lenders all need inspection professionals to verify the general condition of a house prior to purchase. By partnering with local agencies and brokerages, you can quickly build a profitable home inspection career, while working according to your own schedule, free from the constraints of a routine job.

How can The Contractors Institute help me get started?

Once you’ve decided to prepare for a home inspection career, The Inspectors Institute will provide you with all the information you need to get started. Simply enroll online or give us a call at 1-877-LICENSE (542-3673). We’re happy to provide you with the assistance you need. The website also provides you with information about the course, the benefits of selecting a home inspection career. In a short period of time, you’ll be on your way to a new career.

Hoes does The Contractors Institute’s courses prepare me to become a home inspector?

The Contractors Institute home inspection course gives you everything you need to succeed in this profitable and growing career. We prepare you with the most relevant course topics that will enable you to conduct reliable and accurate home inspections, and the nature of our classroom and online house inspection classes will give you quick and easy training that you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home, at your own schedule and pace. The Contractors Institute’s comprehensive house inspection classes use textbooks (both online and hard-copy versions) written exclusively for home inspectors by home inspection professionals with years of experience in the field, and “what to look for” checklists will give you the knowledge of an experienced home inspector.

As an aspiring home inspector, we also provide you with the tools and resources you need to build a solid home inspection career, and even start a home inspection business. We have helped thousands of inspectors begin the carriers.

How do The Contractors Institute courses compare to other schools?

I’m sure there are other good schools out there, but you get the advantage of partnering with a nationally accredited home inspection school without paying more for it. Our home inspection programs are competitively priced with other online training options that don’t offer the same quality courses that you’ll get from other schools.

Can you really get your home inspection training online?

Of course. In fact, it’s the most convenient and inexpensive way to become a home inspector, and with The Contractors Institute, you get the advantages of a traditional live course and more without spending extra money and countless hours in a classroom. With the economy the way it is, inflated hotel cost, and gas prices going up, it’s more cost effective for our students and they can learn at the own pace.

Can home inspectors specialize in a certain expertise?

Yes. Many home inspectors offer specialized inspection services that are not covered in a general home inspection, including mold testing, termite inspections, swimming pool and spa inspections, well and septic system inspections, home maintenance inspections, troubleshooting inspections for homes with problems, pre-listing inspections for homes about to be sold, and inspections of new homes throughout the construction process.

Lead, asbestos, and carbon monoxide testing as well as radon testing and commercial building inspections are other specializations. Getting home inspection training in a specialization will not only increase the number of real estate home inspections you can conduct, but it will also increase how much money you can make per inspection, as home inspectors charge more for specialty inspections.


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Questions? Call us at 1-877-LICENSE (542-3673)