John M. Acaron, BSME, CHI, CMI

In our opinion, no home inspector, in any case, regardless of qualifications, certifications, or experience, can perform a comprehensive and thorough home inspection in an hour or less. Any home inspection performed in an hour cannot be a thorough inspection. A professional Home Inspector who spends an hour inspecting a home is taking advantage of their clients, making a mockery of the home inspection profession, and acting negligent in the process. By the time the inspector set up his equipment, survey the area (property), addresses in detail the basic systems (Roof, Electrical, Plumbing and HVAC systems) in the house, provide preliminary brief to the client and store his equipment in his vehicle no less than a minimum of 2 + hours will be spent.

The following are a few things you may want to check to make sure you don't refer to your client the "1 hour home inspector":

The Home Inspector is not certified and has minimal credentials. This is a warning that the home inspector may not have the knowledge or experience to inspect a home properly. The reason this inspector is so fast is because he or she may not know what to look for. The inspector can end up missing conditions or they may even be oblivious to certain warning signs within a home. Here in Florida, home inspectors don't need to be licensed, certified or anything else to perform a home inspection. So in theory anybody off the street can call him or she a professional Home Inspector - scary isn't it? This is why we have organizations like InterNACHI, ESA, IAQA or ICC to certify inspectors through tests and education so you know you can gauge whether a home inspector is actually knowledgeable enough to inspect a home.

The inspector performs numerous home inspections a day. These home inspectors schedule too many inspections a day and rush through each home inspection to get to the next. Look out for this! The correct thing to do is to provide your client home inspection companies that their inspectors perform one or two inspections a day. This way he or she is not rushed and can spend the appropriate amount of time inspecting the home for your client. Be sure to ask how many inspections a home inspector performs a day. "A Happy Client = Referrals"

The inspector cost for the inspection is priced to low. The inspector doesn't charge enough for the home inspection and ends up short changing your clients with the "1 hour inspection". This means if your client pay a little he or she get a little, probably an hour. These inspectors are usually the ones that get first time homebuyers and Real Estates agents because they are the cheapest. I know that a lot of homebuyer's and particularly first timers and even some agents don't understand the purpose of a home inspection and how to refer a home inspection company. Do your research.

To be a Professional Home Inspector you must be educated, well-trained, and training should be an ongoing process. Education, Experience and Expertise are the key elements to determine if a Professional Home Inspector can perform an accurate and un-bias home inspection in the correct time frame. The job requires integrity, honesty, and determination and adherent to the standard of practice and ethical codes dictated by his or her professional trade association. For more info. visit:

www.HOMEINSPECTORUSA.biz or www.PanamaCityHomeInspector.com