After years of failed attempts, it finally looks like we will have some licensing regulations in place for Home Inspectors in the State of Ohio by 2009. House bill (HB) 257 recently passed the Ohio House of Representatives by a wide margin (83-11). The bill will be reviewed by the Ohio Senate later this year when the legislature reconvenes after the November 4th election.
With all the problems in the last few years in real estate, it would be “political suicide” for any political official (wink, wink Gov. Ted Strickland) not to pass some positive legislation. Legislation designed to regulate & license Ohio’s home inspection industry is long over due.
For too long, any “Joe Schmoe” could print up a business card on their home computer and start a home inspection business. Because of this reason, there are inexperienced, unqualified inspectors in our area. This is a problem for a potential home buyer. The problems we have had in the home inspection industry are really “small potatoes” compared to all the other major problems in real estate (lenders, fraud, greed, non-disclosure, foreclosures, etc.). But, this is a good thing. This means legislation will probably get passed in the State of Ohio.
The new Home Inspection Licensing will probably include the following provisions:
1. Criminal penalties for performing home inspections without a license.
2. Creation of a process for investigating complaints filed against inspectors.
3. Creation of the Ohio Home Inspection Board to regulate the industry.
4. Creating minimum standards and guidelines for performing inspections.
Home Inspector
Check out my previous past about “Home Inspection Nightmares”. This blog post also has good links to find qualified home inspectors in your area via The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) and National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI)
Good luck out there!
My Buyer Broker Advocate! 
5 comments
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March 9, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Michael
Hi Denny, Thank you so much for your comments. Good information. If bill ever does pass, you are correct, that the Division of Real Estate will probably be responsible for licensing. I can understand where some home inspectors would have a problem with this situation. But, the licensing would have to fall under Division or R/E or State of Ohio Commerce. The State will NOT set up a new division to monitor home inspections. This would be too costly.
ASHI and NAHI are great trade organizations. We look for home inspectors that are members of at least one of these organizations. Buying a home is a huge financial transactions, I firmly believe that the home buyer needs “required, mandatory” licensing and guidelines for home inspectors.
Your statement “any one can become a home inspector by just printing up business cards. This is totally false”. You are completely wrong! With no required state licensing and qualifications, ANYONE can print up a flyer or business cards and start offering home inspection services.
This is my 14th year as a True Buyer Broker and I’ve seen specific examples with my OWN clients about choosing terrible, unqualified home inspectors. So many times in a real estate transaction, a buyer or seller will use a real estate agent, home inspector or lender based on them being a freind or family member. This drives me crazy. Sellers and Buyers pay no attention to experience, qualifications, etc.
March 8, 2009 at 11:43 am
Denny L West
AS A Home inspector in the state of Ohio Im am glad that the bill didnt pass . I have been doing home inspections for over three years with well over 400 inspections I am the only inspector in my company . What I find wrong with the law is the way the reality board was to have control . There Are many realestate agents out there that have no clue on what a inspection is really about . They use the term that any one can become a home inspector by just printing up business cards. That is totaly false . Im a Internachi Certified inspector . The training Wether its online Or class room dosenot matter . its the person who puts himself in it completely to study learn and to continue to educate him or her self to do the best job and to share his knowlage and his education with his clients . The real home inspector works for his clients and not the Agents . as for the liscense of home inspectors ,its not needed as long as we have the education with NACHI and other orgainazations such as ASHI ,NAHI to train and equip us with the knowlage needed to preform our work .God bless Denny L West Owner or Top To Bottom Inspection Services Bowling Green Ohio