Inspection Defects

Ohio Realtors

YourHomesOk

OHIO REALTORS®

Please read the following:

Should I recommend a Home Inspector?

Is the Home Inspector licensed or certified?

  • Ohio does not regulate, license or certify Home Inspectors.

So what does that certification mean?

Does the Home Inspector have workers compensation insurance?

  • If the Home Inspector, an employee or a sub contractor should fall off of a roof or down the stairs and injures themselves, who pays?

Is the Home Inspector a “Professional” or a “Generalist”?

  • Most Home Inspectors call themselves “Generalists”.

  • Some Home Inspectors are licensed “Professionals”.

What is a “Professional Generalist”?

Does the Home Inspector take continuing educational courses sanctioned by the State of Ohio?

  • Many trades are required to take continuing education, as do Realtors®, so why not all Home Inspectors.

What if the Home Inspector misses something?

  • If your client hires someone who is licensed and/or certified by the State of Ohio, then they are considered “Professionals” and they are required to carry liability insurance. This should remove you from the “loop”. Most “Professionals” will stand behind their work.

What are Home Inspectors allowed to inspect?

  • An example: 

    § 3783.06 Prohibition.

    Text of Statute

    No person shall engage in the practice of electrical inspection in this

    state unless he is the holder of a certificate of competency as an electrical safety inspector issued under Chapter 3783 of the Revised Code. Any person practicing or offering to practice electrical inspection shall show proof of his certification upon request as provided by rules of the board of building standards.

  • Now if they are just using a $20.00 plug tester and not looking at much else they should be OK.

  • But wait!  Is not the buyer under the impression that they are paying to have the electrical system inspected?

Well what about some of the designations that Home Inspectors use?

  • Look for one that is recognized by the State of Ohio.

  • An example is NFPA. The National Fire Protection Association.

  • NFPA is the body that writes the NEC®. The NEC® is the National Electrical Code®. This is the standard used to govern electrical installations in homes.

What should I do then?

  • Have you client look for a Home Inspector that has qualifications given, by the means of  testing, by the State of Ohio.

  • The Yellow Pages is a good starting point.

Do your clients a service by explaining to them the pitfalls of hiring just any Home Inspector.

Electrical Contractor OH. Lic. #26286 Electrical Safety Inspector OH. Cert. #1820 Member of the National Association of Fire Investigators Member of the National Fire Protection Association Member Electrical Section of NFPA Member Research Section of NFPA Plumbing Contractor OH. Lic. #26286

Lic. #’s displayed as required by the State of Ohio, Ohio Construction
Industry Examining Board.

realto1-6022766