The Difference between Home
Inspections and Engineering Inspections
I occasionally receive calls from home buyers requesting an
engineering inspection for a home they have made an offer on, and when I quote
them $5,000 as a minimum charge they are usually quite shocked.
If they are still on the line, I explain to them that an
engineering inspection is quite involved as engineering scientific analysis
generally involves invasive (destructive) inspection techniques, material sampling and evaluation, and a considerable
amount of time (weeks, months, perhaps years) to complete.
I also explain, that to my knowledge, there are no New York
State defined professional standards that govern pre-purchase “engineering
inspections”, but fortunately, there are defined state standards that govern
pre-purchase “home inspections”, that licensing is required for New York State
home inspectors, and that all state licensed home inspectors must follow these
standards.
I go on to explain that; the New York State standards of
practice are modeled after, and closely follow, the national home inspection
standards of practice created by the American Society Of Home Inspectors (ASHI), that ASHI is the recognized preeminent home
inspection professional organization, and that the highest credential in the
ASHI organization is that of “Certified Inspector”.
There are 100’s of New York State licensed home inspectors
working in this area, but only a small percentage of these have completed the
rigorous ASHI requirements to earn the status of “ASHI Certified Inspector
“.
I recommend that if they are still set on hiring an engineer
to complete their inspection, that they assure that, this engineer is an “ASHI
Certified Inspector”. This credential will assure that they are following
the highest standard of practice for home inspectors in the nation – the ASHI
Standard of Practice.
Bottom line is that – If a buyer hires an engineer to
complete a pre-purchase inspection, they are most likely hiring an engineer to
complete a “home inspection” – not an “engineering inspection”, and the fact
that they are an engineer, provides no guarantee that they are experienced or
qualified home inspectors, or that their engineering degree is for an
engineering discipline with anything to do with home construction and
habitability. They could be hiring an optical or chemical engineer that was
down-sized by one of the area’s large companies with little or no practical residential construction or home inspection experience.
As a home buyer, hiring an ASHI Certified Inspector
assures that you are hiring an industry qualified expert.
As a real estate professional referring a home inspector or
another professional,you wouldn’t refer someone
to a PHD when they needed an MD would you? A home is one of the largest investments
most consumers ever make – referring a buyer to the most qualified home
inspectors available (ASHI Certified Inspectors) will serve to protect
everyone with an interest in the transaction.
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Home Awareness Home Inspections provides home inspection and radon
testing services throughout the Greater Rochester New York Region -
Including Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, and Livingston Counties, and the
Northern Finger Lakes Area.
