Not all home inspectors are created equal.

The state of Michigan does not currently have any licensing regulations for home inspectors other than the following language:

Required State License(s):

Certified home inspectors are those who have completed a course or study program; and then have a certificate of proof that the course has been completed. This certificate is not issued by the state, nor recognized by the state.

This means that YOU as the buyer have to do your due diligence to figure out who you want to hire to inspect your home. So what makes a great home inspector? Here are my thoughts:

Knowledge.

A great home inspector is required to have a lot of knowledge about all the homes different systems. Not only is general knowledge about functionality required but also specific knowledge about common problems, recalled systems, proper product installation, etc.

Experience.

This goes hand and hand with knowledge. Just going through an online training does not make you a great inspector. You need hands on experience. A great home inspector is continually learning, but in the first two years there is a huge learning curve for most home inspectors. Previous construction or building experience can also be very helpful as a home inspector.

Tools.

Inspectors used to have a flashlight, screwdriver, ladder and clipboard. You can still do the bare minimum with those tools but thanks to technology a great inspector will have a large arsenal of tools at their disposal. Here are some tools that you should expect a great inspector to have:

Moisture meter(s)
CO2 Detector
Thermometer
Thermal Camera
Continuous Radon Monitor
Mold Testing Equipment
Digital Reporting Software
Drone
Crawlspace Bot
Outlet/GFCI Tester

Communication.

A great inspector will know how to effectively and honestly communicate their findings. Finding the issues is very important, but it is almost as crucial to be able to clearly communicate them to the client along with the possible implications and costs of these defects. A great inspector will also be able to categorize these defects or findings in an easy to read report.

When choosing who to hire to inspect your home you should make sure they have a good balance of the items above. Since there is no state licensing in Michigan it is your job as a home buyer to find the inspector that you are going to trust to inspect your home!

Danny Geurink, Certified Master Inspector

Your Grand Rapids Home Inspector