Inspect The Inspector: Bill To Regulate Home Inspector Requirements In Tennessee Headed To Vote

(Wednesday, March 23, 2005) - Tennessee state legislature is expected to pass a bill this week that would require home inspectors to be licensed by the state. "The Tennessee Home Inspector Act of 2005" was proposed by Representative Dennis Ferguson (D-Kingston) and by State Senator Jerry Cooper (D-Smartt), and would overhaul existing laws which currently fail to adequately protect consumers.

In order to become licensed in Tennessee , home inspectors would be required to pass a competency exam, carry insurance and meet additional educational and ethical standards. A license must be renewed every two years, and would require an inspector to complete 32 hours of continuing education courses.

Currently about two-thirds of the state's 95 counties require inspectors to be certified by one of the industry's major trade associations. However, certification standards are not consistent, enforcement is difficult, and some counties do not have rules governing home inspectors.

And while some independent inspectors may contest the bill based on the costs associated with insurance and continuing education, Kathleen Kuhn, President and CEO of HouseMaster ®, the most experienced name in home inspections, embraces it wholeheartedly.

"Buying a home is often the most expensive—and stressful—event in a person's life. Buyers need to realize that there is a lot riding on the outcome of an inspection, so it is vital that the inspector have proper training, on-going education, technical support and insurance." HouseMaster currently has 5 franchise offices in Tennessee , and services Bedford, Bradley, Cannon, Cheatham, Davidson, DeKalb, Hamilton, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Montgomery, Rhea, Rutherford, Shelby, Sumner, Williamson, and Wilson counties.

In fact, HouseMaster requires all of its 370 franchise offices to carry Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance and to be certified by the National Institute of Building Inspectors (NIBI). Since its formation in 1979, HouseMaster inspectors have performed nearly 2 million inspections.

Says Kuhn, "We see licensing as a good first step to helping consumers select a quality home inspector, but a home buyer will still need to do their home work." She suggests consumers ask five key questions when looking for a home inspector:

1. Do You Have Insurance? Make sure your inspector is covered by E&O insurance. If the inspector does not carry E&O insurance then you may be left in the lurch – without any financial recourse – should the inspector miss a visible structural or other serious, costly problem that was within the scope of the inspection and could have been detected during the inspection. Keep in mind that even if an inspector is licensed, or a member of a national home inspector trade organization, this does not guarantee that they carry this policy, so ask up front.

2. Do You Have Access to Ongoing Training? An inspector who has constant access to ongoing training and technical support will be able to catch problems in both newer and older homes. It's important that inspectors are fully aware of all problems as there are always changes in residential construction techniques and systems. If an inspector should come across a problem they're unsure of, it's imperative that they have the resources and support team to help them answer unique questions.

3. Are You Certified? Always ask if your inspector is certified by a reputable training institute which requires annual re-testing, like NIBI.

4. Will I Receive a Written Guarantee? There are various types of reports given by professional inspectors, including typed narratives and on-the-spot express written or form reports for those who need or want the information as soon as possible. Make sure you're getting some sort of formal, written guarantee, which backs up the inspection findings. After all, if the inspector isn't confident about his findings, why should you be?

5. Can I Come Along on the Inspection? "Customers should always tag-along during their home inspection," says Kuhn. "At HouseMaster , we encourage it since we believe that it's during this intimate 'walk-through' that customers are able to ask questions and hear valuable maintenance tips that will help once they own the home. And by having the inspector explain his findings as he goes along, buyers are better able to determine what issues they may want to negotiate with the home seller."

To read the proposed legislation in full go to http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/ . For more information about home selling, buying or inspection, visit www.housemaster.com or call 800.526.3939 .

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