Lakewood — It’s coming up on home buying season.
If you're in the market, chances are you'll be hiring an inspector. But here’s something that might shock you. For the most expensive purchase you'll probably make in your life, the people responsible for checking to see if the house is livable, need zero training.
What's worse, if they mess up. You're the one who is probably on the hook.
"I hired him to protect me. And I don't feel that he did,” says Stephanie Krinke.
She had to pour thousands of dollars into her home after moving in, money she never expected to spend.
She blames her home inspector, who she says missed water damage inside the walls and under the windows. All of which would require mold remediation, new sheathing and siding.
"I don't think people realize how bad it can be," she said
Bad, because in several states, including Ohio, anybody can call themselves a home inspector.
"There is no training. No licensing, nothing is required," said Paul Wancata, President of the Northern Ohio American Society of Home Inspectors--an industry group which supports legislation to train and certify inspectors.
"Really, the only way to become experienced is in the field doing it,’ he explained.
But the Ohio legislature has refused to pass any laws, despite a study conducted for The Ohio Real Estate Commission 12 years ago, which recommended some sort of laws.
It suggested that regulation would stop fly by night inspectors who were just in it for a quick buck. It would discourage them from preparing reports for a fee. And it would protect real estate agents from financial retribution from bad inspections.
In February, a bill which included continuing education was passed in the Economic Development, Commerce and Labor Committee, but later stalled after House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger abruptly resigned amid an ethics investigation.
In the meantime, Wancata suggests buyers and go along for the inspection to learn about the house, and to see firsthand any issues.
"Meet the home inspector that’s evaluating the most expensive purchase you've ever made," he said.
Your real estate agent will also likely have a list of inspectors. But you should still check them out with the Better Business Bureau and Attorney General’s office. Because even if the inspector misses something huge most have contracts say they'll only refund you the cost of the inspection, not the money you have to pay to fix the problem.