A.At this point, Texas
is the only state that requires certification for
home inspectors. Compliance must be handled through
the state housing board. But for general
information and training there are several home
inspection organizations. The largest is the
American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI, 3299 K
St. NW, 7th floor, Washington, DC 20007;
202/842-3096). ASHI’s Standards
of Practice and Code of Ethics is widely accepted
among home inspectors. Other training opportunities
include the Property Inspectors Training Institute
(8811 Stonehaven Court, Potomac, MD 20854;
301/983-9371), which offers a week-long residential
inspection course several times a year, and
Home-Tech Systems, Inc. (5161 River Road, Bethesda,
MD 20186; 301/657-3133), which periodically offers
a course in starting a home inspection
business.
There are also several home inspection franchise
organizations that offer training to members.
Perhaps the largest of these affiliate networks is
HomePro Systems, Inc.
(2841 Hartland Road, Falls Church, VA 22043;
800/966-4555). Home-Chek of America (120-A E. Broad
St., Falls Church, VA 22046; 800/451-1702) also has
excellent courses on mechanical systems that are
sometimes open to nonmembers.
Other franchise groups include the Inspection
Experts (2263 NW 2nd Ave., Suite 110, Boca Raton
FL; 800/226-6299), which offers courses in several
cities during the year. Inspection Training
Associates (410 S. Santa Fe, Vista, CA;
800/323-9235) offers a 12-hour home study course on
video, as well as two residential courses that are
accredited by the state of California.
An excellent book on the subject is The
Complete Book of Home Inspection by Norman
Becker(McGraw-Hill, New York; 1980).