Home Improvement News Bureau

Home Inspections Fall Short Nationwide

States Need to Look at Inspection Regulations

State legislators in Florida, Pennsylvania and California may want to take a close look at the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) 2007 state ranking of the best and worst home inspection regulation laws in the United States.  In the last 10 years, 28 states have enacted some form of home inspection regulation.  Many wonder, however, if these laws are enough to protect the interests of consumers. Florida is the latest state to regulate home inspection but enacted a law that does not require home inspectors to take and pass a valid examination or adhere to standards of practice.  California has been ranked dead last for two years because several of its provisions -- including its “prohibited acts” provision, which outlines an inspector’s code of ethics -- cannot be enforced.  Pennsylvania  was ranked fifth on ASHI’s 2005 list but dropped dramatically in 2006 and 2007 because the state’s “inspector experience” requirement as stated was not enforceable.  Below are ASHI’s 2007 rankings of state regulations governing the home inspection industry from best to worst:

1. Louisiana
2. New Jersey
3. Arizona
4. Texas
5. Massachusetts
6. Connecticut/North Carolina
8. Arkansas
9. Indiana
10. Rhode Island/West Virginia
12. South Dakota/Tennessee
14. Mississippi
15. Virginia
16. Wisconsin
17. Oklahoma
18. Kentucky
19. Alaska/Illinois
21. Alabama/Oregon/New York
24. Maryland
25. Nevada
26. Florida
27. Pennsylvania
28. South Carolina
29. Montana
30. North Dakota
31. Georgia
32. California

In fairness to California, it could be worse.  States not listed have NO license requirement.  Regardless of where you live, and whether your state has a license requirement or not, we recommend always using an ASHI certified inspector.  Home Inspectors who have the dedication to pass ASHI’s rigorous examination and adhere to both its Standard of Practice and Code of Ethics will no doubt be among the cream of the crop.

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