My question, do companies such as US Home Inspector Training offer any REAL value for what they charge, or am I better off purchasing the literature and preparing for the NHIE on my own?
Also, is anyone familiar with Spectora? What is your take/experience with these services?
About me: 47 years old, new member, 1st post. I’ve been working in the trades for 28+ years. I’ve installed granite, worked under a master carpenter in finish carpentry, and have a total of 14 years of foreman experience.
Around 95% of my work experience has been in residential. I have an Associates Degree in Construction Management. For what it’s worth, I have read the entire IRC 2009.
Do the minimum you have to do to pass the NHIE exam. Your construction experience is the best training you can have. You need to learn the inspection side of it now. NACHI courses did it for me. I have no licensing in my state, so I did not have to take any exams.
Re Spectora: It’s only one of many good reporting systems. You don’t need the business or billing component. I have my agreements on the NACHI site here, and I do my CC billing through paypal.
Choosing reporting software is a critical decision. Read through the archives on this site about choosing reporting software. It was the decision that I was most unprepared to make when starting out.
I use Spectora and am happy with it. Feel free to ask any specific questions you may have about it.
As Michael said, you don’t need back office integration with your reporting software, but it sure makes life easier. That was one of the selling points for me when I chose Spectora.
Better idea… go over to the Spectora dedicated thread section and read to your hearts content, and if need be, ask your Spectora related questions over there so as not to clutter the rest of the MB for uninterested members! .
Your electrical, plumbing and HVAC knowledge will need to be more than casual, familiarity with the codes is fundamental as that is the way the questions are structured. The exam is designed that those with the knowledge are expected to do well, so if you are not doing well on test exams it will show up in real life.
Mathew, People usually take the NHIE (which is a proctored exam) because it is needed by their state for licensing. We don’t know where you are. In Maryland a 72 hour classroom course (must pass) is also required. Once you are licensed 30 hours of continuing education is required for each 2 year licensing period.
The place to start for you is to find out exactly what your state requires. Maryland has their own SOP (standard of practice) which is similar to InterNACHI’s.
InterNACHI membership can help you get started and complete much of your NHIE preparation and CE courses if needed.
There are many good software programs out there. Most offer free trial, so that would be a good approach to figure out what works for you. The software is just a tool it won’t do the inspection for you.
It’s a thread about two specific topics. Not a general “advice” thread. The OP asked about training for the NHIE and about Spectora. So you are ok with discussing the NHIE in this thread, but not Spectora then?
THIS ^^^^^^^^^^ is where this thread could potentially be contaminated. YOU proposed a discussion about Spectora within this thread. Take it to where it belongs… that’s why the Spectora section was created to begin with!
