International Association of Certified Home Inspectors

This course will discuss statutory regulations concerning fireplace and chimney inspections, as well as the elements of fireplaces, chimneys, and wood burning stoves. We will discuss the proper methods of construction, installation, maintenance, and safety considerations necessary to enhance a home inspection and provide an increased level of comfort for your clients.

This course focuses on noninvasive inspection of the systems and components referred to as “conventional” heating and cooling. For the purposes of this course, the training focus and learning objectives are for the thorough observation, noninvasive inspection and informative reporting requirements on permanently installed force air, gas-fired, electric-powered central heating and cooling systems, components, and air-to-air heat pumps.

The focus is not simply on the mechanicals of the heating and cooling system cabinet and equipment. Rather, this course emphasizes and expands upon the inspection routine as guided by industry standards of practice, and focuses on safety parameters, effective communication skills for client understanding, and targeting your eyes on the heating and cooling inspection as you turn into the inspection property driveway that first time.

To enhance the learning experience, the course is seasoned with inspection best practices and in-the-field perspective and experience gained over time, to review and reinforce basic home inspection requirements to meet or exceed standards/regulations and client satisfaction.

Nearly two in five existing homes suffer from some type of major and potentially dangerous defect. Learn how to protect yourself from risky endangers in these homes. 

COURSE HIGHLIGHTS: 

• Explore in-depth information on safety precautions for home inspectors 
• Identify your safest options for clothing, equipment, and proper procedure 
• Learn how to take preventative measures in your daily operations as a home inspector

This course is intended to be an informative and educational overview of electricity and electrical inspections, which are pertinent to professional inspectors.  Because of the nature of electricity and the responsibility that electrical inspections inherently possess, it is important to review the basics from time to time.  An understanding of electricity and electrical systems is integral to a safe, secure, and functional home.

Additionally, incorrectly managed electrical systems can carry a high degree of danger; therefore, these inspections must be compliant with relevant NFPA and NEC codes.  Upon the completion of this course, the professional inspector will have a renewed understanding of electrical inspection requirements.

This course will provide a brief history of electricity and the scientists who contributed the building blocks that made our modern-day electrical theories, principles, and systems possible. We will then discuss safety preparedness and adequate preparation when performing a safe electrical inspection, as well as the steps involved in an electrical inspection.  Lastly, we will provide an overview of effective communication to communicate the findings of the inspection to the client.  

Attic ventilation is an extremely important component of keeping a house in good condition. Having a properly sized and well balanced attic ventilation system helps to provide comfort in the home, protects building materials and structure, and reduces energy consumption. 

COURSE HIGHLIGHTS: 

• Examine the problems and damage created by inadequately ventilated attic spaces
• Review repairs and replacements for attic ventilation 
• Learn the general principles and characteristics of attic ventilation

The objective of this course is to provide a clear understanding of private septic systems, discuss the types of systems and their components, as well as explain how to perform proper inspections to ensure septic systems are in proper working order.

Most homes have imperfections. Many of them are simple annoyances, but some of them represent very real hazards. These hazards are not only found inside the home. Aside from the usual walls, windows, roof and foundation condition, there is still much to examine on the outside of any house. As a housing inspector, any surrounding condition that affects the values or usefulness of the home should be included in your report. Potential issues can range anywhere from complications with drainage to encroaching root structures. This course will focus on these and other potential exterior hazards and will emphasize the ways in which these outdoors hazards may affect the long term health of a home.

Take away practical tips for how to correctly identify and remediate mold growth in a home. 

COURSE HIGHLIGHTS: 

• Examine mold strains you might find in a residence 
• Gain in-depth information on the various places to search out mold growth and methods of measurement and remediation 
• Take away insights on identifying and remediating mold growth in residential and commercial buildings

Learn the most important aspects of sealing and insulating a home. 

COURSE HIGHLIGHTS: 

• Review the three ways heat is transferred 
• Discuss R-Value and various types of insulation 
• Examine how to check a home for air leaks and insulation levels

This course will provide an in-depth look into plumbing cross connections, plumbing systems, and why cross connections should be inspected or determined. 

COURSE HIGHLIGHTS: 

• Review the processes of inspecting the plumbing piping, sanitary piping, and vent system 
• Gain insights on plumbing systems and cross connections regarding residential construction 
• Learn the risks of mixing potable water with non-potable water

Each year, about 12% of lung cancer cases and more than 20,000 Americans die of radon-related lung causes. Therefore, as a home inspector, it is integral that you are knowledgeable about the identification and remediation of radon gas in the home. 

COURSE HIGHLIGHTS: 

• Review basic information on radon for residential properties, including the definition of radon, an explanation of where it comes from, and a discussion of how it relates to the general home inspector 
• Explore how radon enters a structure and common mitigation methods

Gain in-depth insights on appliances and peripherals in home inspections. 

COURSE HIGHLIGHTS: 

• Discuss the different rules regarding these specialized systems 
• Explore the installation, operation, and inspection of these appliances and peripherals

Learn about problems with new homes that are not necessarily code violations, yet have serious consequences for the new homeowner. 

COURSE HIGHLIGHTS: 

• Gain extensive information on residential home inspection and construction for the entire building process 
• Review site preparation, footings and foundations, framing systems, insulation and ventilation, HVAC, and mechanical systems 
• Solidify your understanding through course drawings and photographs that illustrate the construction process

Review and reinforce basic foundation training and knowledge and gain insights that an inspector will require while investigating site preparation and construction during Phase Inspections. 

COURSE HIGHLIGHTS: 

• Examine the International Code Council's 2012 International Residential Code for One and Two Family Dwellings (2012 IRC) Chapter 4 and other selected sections 
• Explore both residential and commercial foundations

This course will review the fundamental standards and codes of ethics for the profession practice of home inspection. It will cover information from national and international home inspection associations which governs home inspections. Case studies will be discussed to supplement the training. Strategies will be outlined to assist the professional to make ethical decisions when faced with a conflict. Periodic assessments will be included throughout the course to check for understanding.

The roof is a home’s primary line of defense from the natural elements such as wind, rain, hail, ice, snow, and heat. This makes the roof perhaps the most vulnerable part of a building. As an inspector, it is integral that you understand the key information pertaining to the background of a roof inspection. 

COURSE HIGHLIGHTS: 

• Gain familiarity with roof inspection terminology and equipment 
• Learn how to successfully complete a roof inspection in a variety of weather-related elements and on a variety of roofs
• Identify specific roofing materials, how those materials respond to different weather elements, and how to safely inspect different roof types while not damaging the roof or injuring yourself during the inspection

The purpose of this course is to prepare home inspectors to confidently perform water heater evaluations and properly present their findings to their clients. In this course, we will discuss the following: different types of water heaters, how each type of system operates, individual components of each type of system, how to perform an inspection properly, and how to present your findings to the customer.

This course will focus on the structural home inspection using the American Society of Home Inspectors’ (ASHI) standards as an outline for topics. The course will discuss details for the exterior, interior and structure inspection, and will use examples of common components and defects as training tools. We will also discuss reporting defects in order to communicate findings accurately to the customer and limit your liability.

The success or failure of a home inspection report can often hinge on a single word, therefore your primary objective, regardless if you use a hand-written checklist, or computer-generated reporting system, is to clearly and concisely explain things to your client. 

COURSE HIGHLIGHTS: 

• Examine numerous aspects of practical reporting techniques
• Discover the problems that many inspectors will face during the reporting process 
• Review professionalism within the home inspector field

Though home inspections are not intended to be an energy audit, understanding energy efficiency and energy efficient construction are important for home inspectors. 

COURSE HIGHLIGHTS: 

• Take an in-depth look into energy usage, design, and building for residential structures 
• Explore multiple components of residential construction
• Discuss ways to make homes more energy efficient

This course will examine the importance of proper grading and drainage slopes for foundations as it pertains to home inspections. Many defects observed during home inspections could have been completely avoided if simple preventative measures would have been taken. Many of these issues are often caused by poor water management. This course will discuss proper proper grading and drainage for homes and explain water diversion repairs and preventative measures to ensure water relief. 

Sewage contains millions of bacteria in each cubic centimeter, making it incredibly dangerous for the health of the homeowner and their family. Therefore, it is integral that a home inspector understand the specific requirements of sewage disposal systems, for incorrect installation, maintenance, or decommissioning may cause dramatic health and safety issues. 

COURSE HIGHLIGHTS: 

• Gain a comprehensive understanding of private residential sewage and septic waste disposal, including the codes most pertinent to any given dwelling 
• Familiarize yourself with accepted construction practices and required health and safety features for residential sewage disposal systems