Can you trust your home inspector...?

Suspicions arise over inability to prove ASHI membership
                              
By Barry Stone

Inman News®

DEAR BARRY: Before I bought my home, I hired a professional home inspector, but he did not do a very thorough job. This week I asked him to show proof that he is in good standing as a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). But he has refused to provide any documentation. Do I have any recourse against this inspector? --Andrew

DEAR ANDREW: If the home inspector claims to be a member of ASHI, you can verify this by visiting the association's website at www.ashi.com. Click on "Find an Inspector" and type in his name. He either is or is not a member. However, home inspector associations such as ASHI do very little in the way of policing the professionalism of members. Unless someone fails to pay dues or does not participate in ongoing education, it is unlikely that the membership status would be adversely affected.

The main issue is whether your inspector performed a thorough inspection. If there were defects that he did not report, he should respond to your concerns. If he is dodging you, that is a more serious issue than whether he is a member of an association. If the inspection was substandard, the inspector should respond to your concerns by reinspecting the issues at hand. If he is unwilling to stand behind his work, you probably should have another inspection by someone who is truly qualified. A second inspection report can be used to support a case against the first inspector.