Home Inspection Associations: Who is #1?
Jun 20 2007The House Detective by Barry Stone, Certified Building Inspector
Dear Barry: Whenever you recommend home inspection associations, you specify the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI), or a recognized state association such as CREIA. While those organizations are well-known, none can claim to be the top organization in the home inspection industry. NACHI, the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors, is Number One. With nearly 8000 members in the United States and Canada, it is the premier association in the home inspection industry. How about giving NACHI some recognition? Jerry
Dear Jerry: Although NACHI appears to have the largest number of member inspectors, it is not recognized as “Number One” by the majority of established, highly experienced home inspectors. For example, in the county where I reside, there are approximately 30 home inspectors. Of these, only five are listed as members on the NACHI website, and all of these five are relatively new inspectors, with little experience in the profession. This means that a homebuyer who uses the NACHI website to find an inspector in this area would have no access to a highly experienced inspector. If, on the other hand, you would check the website of the California Real Estate Inspection Association (CREIA), you would find a list of 23 inspectors, including the most experienced professionals in the area. If you visited the ASHI website, you’d find 12 members, including several with 10 to 20 years in the business. At the NAHI site, you would find one local member, but that inspector has nearly 20 years of experience. On the basis of these facts, which website would you recommend to a client who was hoping to find a highly qualified home inspector? Would it be ASHI, NAHI, CREIA, or NACHI?
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I would liek to respond to the CREIA Inspector that replied to your article abou NACHI. First of all not all Home Inspectors are experienced. If I chose to belong to another organization say as an example I could join as an associate member if I was a new inspector. For the person that responded to your article to imply that all NAACHI members are new and un-experienced is a falsehood and is not substantiated with any basis in fact as far as I can see. I know many NACHI Inspectors that have been in the business for many years some as much as 25 or 30. I joined NACHI because of the continuing education that is required by them but is also provided by them at minimal costs if any. I am a proud member of NACHI and stand by it. Why have 8000 inspectors joined it? Are they all new inspectors? I think not. Thanks for the platform and good luck in all you do to you and all Home Inspectors everywhere. We are in this together and should stand tall for eachother.