Tips on how best to Choosing a Qualified Georgia Home Inspector

Credentials Matter!!

First, Georgia has no state or local requirements to perform home inspections. None!!

Second, Less than 2% of Georgia home inspectors have any of the following State of Georgia Construction licenses. Electrical, conditioned air, plumbing, and general contractor.

Listed below are my four State of Georgia Construction Licenses and or Certifications.
• State of Georgia Electrical Contractor license number EN009660
• State of Georgia Conditioned Air Contractor license number CR005780
• Georgia Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicators license number 02077
• Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission awareness certified subcontractor certification number 000050705

Third, Less than 90% of Georgia home inspectors are certified by the International Code Council in the following five categories.

Listed below are my five International Code Council Certifications.
• ICC Residential Building Inspector 517017 – B1
• ICC Residential Electrical Inspector 517017 – E1
• ICC Residential Mechanical 517017 – M1
• ICC Residential Plumbing Inspector 517017 – P1
• ICC Residential Combination Inspector 517017 – R5

Fourth, Over 95% of home inspection reports in Georgia do not address applicable building code violations. Hiring a home inspector who is not addressed applicable building code issues is like hiring a Lawyer, who is not addressing legal issues.

I urge you to consider the following when choosing a home inspector:

Ask to see one of their reports
The findings of your home inspection should be detailed in a written report covering the items inspected. There is no standard format for this report and styles vary widely from a simple checklist to an extensive report detailing each of your home’s major components complete with digital pictures. When a defect is found, the inspector should help you understand the magnitude of the problem, answer any questions and make recommendations on how or who should correct the defect. Simply checking a box marked "poor" or "inadequate" will not provide you with the information required to understand the extent of the defect or what exactly needs to be repaired.

Research their credentials
Georgia has no requirements for home inspectors. However, you can learn a lot about an inspector by researching his or her credentials.

Make sure they’re insured.
The home inspector should be prepared to provide an insurance certificate to prove they have the required insurance.

Make sure they’re members of the following home inspector associations.
ASHI, GAHI, and InterNACHI home inspector associations.

Don’t base your decision solely on price.
Your home inspection will be an unbiased, professional assessment on the condition of the physical structure and various systems within the house. You should make sure that you are hiring a professional with the knowledge and training necessary to provide you with the sound information you need to make informed decisions, and not make your decision based on price alone. A highly qualified inspector will have put a large investment into the certifications, training, and continuing education required to provide a high quality service. As with most things, when it comes to home inspections, you generally get what you pay for.