FAQs
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Education is very important in this field as with many others. It is extremely important that your inspector keep up with new developments. The Inspectors at 4U Home Inspection are required to belong to national home inspector organizations and to attend their continuing education classes. Alan Grubb our founder also chairs the education committee for the Maryland Association of Home Inspectors and conducts classes for Realtors® on home inspection.
- What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
A Home Inspection Report is only good to you if you can understand it. Too many inspectors just rush through your inspection with a checklist that they give you at the end in a fancy binder. Do you really know what "galvanic corrosion" is? Ask the inspector what form your report comes to you in and if you can walk with him and ask questions about the house during the inspection. My customers seem to like a narrative report with pictures explaining the things I see. Make sure that the inspector will also be available to answer questions for you afterwards.
- What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?
Not all home inspectors our created equal and not all experience is good. I was at a seminar once where the speaker said, "practice does not make perfect, only perfect practice makes perfect." Sorry I cannot remember who that was. The point is even though experience is an excellent teacher, continuing education and "perfect practice" makes perfect. That is why I accepted the nomination of the Maryland Association of Home Inspectors when they ask me to chair the education committee for their members. MAHI as it is known is committed to making Maryland Home Inspectors the best in the nation. Unfortunately now all Maryland Home Inspectors belong to MAHI.