House Detective: Making the Most of Home Inspection

The House Detective by Barry Stone, Certified Home 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?