It might surprise Columbus home buyers, but until recently, home inspectors were not required to hold a professional license in the State of Ohio. Virtually anyone could conduct business as a home inspector and follow their own interpretation of the job. This left home buyers vulnerable to bad actors in the trade, with practically no recourse against them.
In January 2019, the Ohio legislature created a licensing requirement for home inspectors which was scheduled to become effective November 1, 2019. The new law established a uniform standard for education, skills and business practices, and required applicants to pass a criminal background check.
As part of the new law, real estate agents must recommend no less than 3 licensed home inspectors for home buyers to choose from. The law also creates procedures for resolving complaints between home buyers and home inspectors.
There’s just one snag: the State is still deciding how to test and qualify new home inspector applicants who apply for licensing. Consequently, the effective date of some provisions of the licensing law have been pushed out to April 5, 2020.
In the meantime, hundreds of experienced Ohio home inspectors have obtained a license through a “grandfather” provision. This fast-track license requires a combination of experience, industry-related education, and/or completion of a national home inspector exam.
Many reputable home inspectors are also members of the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI®.) Members of this trade association pledge to adhere to specific standards of practice and a code of ethics.
Meanwhile, your best bet for finding an experienced, qualified home inspector, is through a referral from an Exclusive Buyer’s Broker! We only represent buyers, which gives us a strong, buyer-centric perspective on the inspection process. Therefore, we only recommend trustworthy home inspectors who examine the home as if they were buying it themselves. This is just one of the many benefits of having an Exclusive Buyer’s Broker on your side!
As your Exclusive Buyer’s Broker, we serve your best interests at all times! Unlike real estate agents and brokerages who represent sellers, as an Exclusive Buyer’s Broker, we only represent you, the buyer, getting you the best price and terms with no conflict of interest at all times.
Understanding this distinction could literally save you thousands of dollars not only on the purchase price and terms, but also on seller concessions and home inspection issues, whether you are a first-time homebuyer or an experienced homeowner!
Contact us with your home buying questions! Remember, we are with you every step of the way…all the way home!
Andrew Show
Exclusive Buyer’s Broker, CEBA-M, MCNE, CSP, PSA,e-PRO, CREM, ABRM, AHWD
Buyer’s Resource Realty Services, www.buyershome.com
Serving Metro Columbus, Ohio with Exclusive Buyer’s Agents
7100 North High Street, Suite 204, Worthington, Ohio 43085
614-888-4110 | 888-888-4110 Toll Free | 614-839-4110 Fax
