How to inspect your home inspector

ceramistpalace

This is a column by Mike Holmes in today  Journal. Holmes, in this article, has detailed some very good points which I failed to say it clear in my previous postings. It's worthy to have a read but for those who are too busy to do that, I would like to summarize it as follows and hope it would work as an alarm clock for those who rely on inspectors to determine a back-off or go-ahead decision on one of the biggest investment ever in their lives.
1. Currently, no national licensing and no federal regulations for inspectors-some may have joined membership of inspectors organizations, but it is believed that they use it as a marketing tool.
2. Home inspection may only provide the public with a false sense of security-they don't have  liability insurance; in cases they fail to notice major problems or mistakes were made, you can sue them for only the amount you paid them, i.e. the inspection fee; the expensive costs of repairs will be on your own ( since March,2009, B.C. is the 1st province to offer such protection)
3. Anyone can claim to be an inspector and many of them are self-taught.

So, when your inspector reports too many of minor problems like nail pop-ups, dripping faucets while there is no other serious deficiencies such as leaking roof or foundation walls, it doesn't mean you need an instant back-off but be alert and make sure your inspector knows what he has done and no check-up for serious problems was missed.