What does a Home Inspector do?

A Home Inspector helps to protect homeowners from injury and loss by spotting problems with structures and systems that could pose a risk for flooding, fires, injury and other serious problems. Home Inspectors who work for state and local government agencies help support safe communities by identifying issues with residences and encouraging construction professionals to adhere to building codes, laws and regulations by issuing fines and stop-work orders. 

Inspectors employed directly by construction firms contribute to the overall success of organizations by lowering the likelihood of errors that could result in criminal and/or civil liability. In addition, Home Inspectors working in the construction industry can minimize the risk of delays and mistakes that can cause projects to become over budget or behind schedule. As a result, they have a positive impact on customer satisfaction rates.

Home Inspector skills and qualifications

To encourage quality candidates to apply for open positions, a Home Inspector job description should list key qualifications that contribute to success in the role. Some skills you may wish to include are:

• Thorough understanding of construction, plumbing and electrical systems

• Knowledge of the building codes and safety regulations in a geographic area

• Ability to move into difficult-to-access areas, such as crawl spaces or unfinished second floors and attics

• Access to reliable transportation to travel to properties, which may be located across a city, county or entire state

• Familiarity with surveying equipment, moisture testers, wiring testers and other equipment used during inspections

• Organizational skills to track documentation related to multiple homes at once

• Attentiveness to detail to find violations

• Strong written communication skills to compose easy-to-understand, detailed reports

Home Inspector experience requirements

How much experience a Home Inspector requires will be largely determined by the regulations in your area. In some places, a Home Inspector must work as an apprentice or under a mentor for a set number of hours before they can conduct inspections on their own. Even if your location doesn’t have experience requirements, you may still wish to specify one or more years of experience as a requirement on your Housing Inspector job description since Inspectors often work alone with little direct supervision. Having previously worked as a construction laborer or foreman, plumber or electrician may also be beneficial.

Home Inspector education and training requirements

Many states regulate the home inspection profession and establish education and training requirements for prospective Home Inspectors. Before writing your Home Inspector job description, become familiar with the rules in your area to ensure your own requirements comply.

 The most common education for Property Inspectors is a post-secondary certificate, but some may hold associate or bachelor’s degrees or complete an apprenticeship program. There may also be other licensing requirements, depending on your state, such as the  National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE). 

Home Inspector salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Home Inspector is $136,132 per year. How much an individual Home Inspector can expect to make depends on where they live, what sector they work in and their education, training and work history.

Job description samples for similar positions

If the Home Inspector job description discussed here doesn’t fully describe your open position, review the following related job titles:

• Field Inspector

• Construction Project Manager

• Construction Superintendent

Home Inspector job description FAQs

What’s the difference between a Home Inspector and a Home Appraiser?

A Home Appraiser is a professional who examines completed homes to determine their fair market value. Although they often conduct inspections, their goal is to decide how much a home is worth rather than evaluate if the construction complies with codes, laws and regulations.

What’s the difference between a Home Inspector and a Property Inspector?

A Property Inspector job description will likely feature many of the same skills and qualifications as one for a Home Inspector position. However, Property Inspectors may be responsible for evaluating more than just single-family homes. They may also inspect apartment buildings, office buildings, industrial facilities and other types of commercial structures.

What qualities make for a good Housing Inspector?

Because laws and regulations and construction technology change over time, a good Housing Inspector usually enjoys learning new things and has a passion for the industry. Individuals who prefer to work independently may also thrive in the role.