Originally Posted By: jmcginnis
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
I guess it boils down to individual preference as to just how much or how deep you go into an inspection… I have noticed by reading this BB and others that most inspectors do a general overall inspection and then it varies after that as to what is inspected and to what degree… I have read on the BB where some inspectors are taking amperage readings on appliances, some are doing CO checks on furnaces, water pressure checks, some do temperature variation checks on HVAC equipment, moisture tests, condensation checks, furnace efficiencies, load calculations, etc… while at it, why not do voltage drop readings! Seems to me that voltage drop is as important an issue as any of the others mentioned here…it seems that Russ and Gerry have made the most sense to me as an inspector, and that is to be a generalist…check all things in general and then anything else that is blatantly unsafe… then refer anything that is questionable to an expert… I am a registered master electrician but I still recommend to my clients in a home inspection that they seek the advice and expertise of an electrician when I feel the item in question is out of the scope of a general home inspection…an electrician other than me because now I am working as a home inspector…I have also chosen to stop telling my clients that I am a master electrician so that they don’t have the expectation that I am going to inspect every detail of their electrical system…I leave that up to electrical inspectors… finally it seems to me that each inspector has to find his own comfort zone for inspections by doing as much as you feel is a good job for your client within the scope of a quality home inspection…you live , you learn and you change… message boards like this one make that process better, easier and faster…
Tis why I am thinking of getting into it. A bit tired of all you mentioned and then some and getting older as well…this work is a bit tough on the old frame. However, I love my job lol…and I will surely miss it I am sure if I get into doing HI or anything else. I noticed not too many people hit the commercial side of this business. Is there a real market out there for commercial inspectors or is it best to stay residential. The bulk of my career as a sparky has been in commercial/industrial. I am doing service work now which is like 85% residential.