Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal - November 10-16, 2003

Building changes up demand for home inspections

By Kathy Ruff
Business Journal Correspondent

Twenty years ago few people in the Lehigh Valley knew what a home inspection was. Today inspections have become an integral part of the real estate industry, educating and protecting prospective home buyers before they finalize the purchase of a home. Home inspections reveal existing conditions in areas including heating, plumbing, electrical and others that might or otherwise have been known or disclosed.

"One of he things that occurred in our social climate of the last 30 to 40 years is that the handyman-type work that was traditionally done by the husband of the family has gone by the wayside as we have become more of a computer driven, office or white collar society," says Frank Coccia (InterNACHI member) owner of Inspect-It Home Inspection Services, Phoenixville.

Keeping up with the modern technology systems in today’s homes requires more technical skill than most homeowners posses. Combined with other factors, technology has contributed to the growth of the home inspection industry.

"If you were buying a car and you really weren’t sure whether it was a good car or not, you would probably take it to your mechanic and ask the professional whether there were any pitfalls or not," says Coccia. "That would be your way of insuring that you were buying a fairly decent car without any major problems. It’s the same service that we provide."

Consumer demand for the service with homes created the home inspection industry and the need for professionally qualified inspectors. Economic conditions also may have contributed to the industry’s rapid growth.

"Unfortunately in the last three or four years, the economy has really been in the dumps and a lot of people might be looking for other opportunities," says Coccia. "But you can’t just hang your shingle and decide you’re going to be a home inspector in Pennsylvania."

Restrictions outlined by state regulations govern those seeking to perform home inspection services.

"Pennsylvania does not have a licensing of home inspectors but they do have a requirement to be qualified," says Fred Buck, owner of Buck’s Home Inspection Service in Saylonsburg.

The retiree from the Navy Seabee construction branch represents the American Society of Home Inspections (ASHI) as president of the Pocono-Lehigh chapter. The society in part set standards and educational requirements to help inspectors comply with state law.

"Part of it is providing the consumer with an honest and objective evaluation of a home," says Buck. "I think for a qualified, experienced home inspector, that’s a primary goal of home inspection, so there is a bit of a crusader attitude for some home inspections."

Desire for independence and flexibility no available in the retail industry adds to the appeal of a home inspection business.

"What’s really happened is that the field of competition has grown but at the same time the market has grown," say Arick Amspanker, owner of HomePro Inspections, Bethlehem, a former general contractor. "They want a business where they can set their own schedule and determine what they’re going to do each day."

But opening a home inspection business requires training, experience, errors and omissions insurance and other business-related costs and prerequisites.

"Because of the cost and liability of being a home inspector, it’s really become a true profession as opposed to just a contractor looking at a home for a potential buyer," says Nick Gromicko, Executive Director of the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI), Valley Forge.

Pursuant to Pennsylvania Act 114 of 2000 anyone who does home inspections must be a fully certified member in good standing of a national professional association or be supervised by someone who is. The act requires a pre-determined minimum amount of errors and omissions insurance and membership in and adherence to a national home inspection association’s standards of practice and code of ethics. Performing at least 100 home inspections and passing an intricate exam add to the credentials needed to be a qualified home inspector.

"One of the nest things is that although the law seems simple, requiring you to join an association," says Gromicko, "It allows the association to assign even greater standards to the industry whereas the law specifically didn’t."

But others feel loopholes exist that could compromise consumers and the law is no comprehensive enough.

Two national associations, the American Society of Home Inspectors and the National Association of Home Inspectors, joined forces and formed the Pennsylvania Home Inspection Coalition. Among other things, the coalition provides a mentoring program to assist new inspectors in meeting the state requirements. Is also coordinates and creates standards for home inspectors, provides continuing education and works to revise the law to provide greater detail and monitoring by the state for protection of consumers.

For more information about the home inspection industry visit the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors at www.nachi.org

To find a certified home inspector in your neighborhood visit www.FindAnInspector.US