There are lots of online home inspecting programs, but only one with as much to offer as ICA School.

You’re Never Really Alone

Video Makes a Big Difference

Reading about home inspecting is good, but with such a hands-on job you’ll also want something more in-depth. That’s why we include instructor-led video lessons. Each of the 27 modules that you’ll complete come with a video component that’s fully narrated.

Access reference material at any time, even after you graduate.

Get Access to Lots of Extras

We also offer full access to a reference library that includes an over 5,000 page e-book on the International Building Code, plus e-books on energy audits, termite inspections, septic inspections and much more.

Learn About Starting and Running a Business

We also cover the legal aspects that you’ll need to know, plus other details that many inspectors have to learn the hard way. For example, you’ll learn about drafting and using pre-inspection agreements, types of insurance that you’ll need, and the basics of forming a business.

Our program really is different, and on so many levels. But you don’t have to take our word for it. See for yourself. Get a free course demo today.

Inspecting for accessibility helps more people find the home that they really need.

With Americans living longer and healthier lives, many older men and women prefer to stay in their own home instead of moving with family or opting for retirement residences. Additionally, Americans with disabilities need certain home improvements to make living at home more accessible.

Unfortunately, the idea is not without its problems. That’s where CLIPP inspections help. As a certified CLIPP inspector, you could expand your business and help a very worthy cause in the process.

What is CLIPP and Why is it Important?

CLIPP™ is a Certified Living in Place Professional. A concept introduced by the Living in Place Institute, its sole purpose is to increase awareness and help improve accessibility in all homes for current or future residents, no matter their age or level of ability.

CLIPP™ inspections provide information about whether a home meets the Living in Place best practices. Instead of only inspecting for defects as your current Standards of Practice define them, you’d identify existing accessibility problems and offer solutions, and also inspect for existing compliance.

Living in Place Institute CLIPP™ Class

To help inspectors and other professionals in the industry learn what it takes to be a CLIPP™ expert, the Living in Place Institute has developed the Certified Living In Place Professional™(CLIPP™) class. Coursework, according to the Institute, includes:

Accessibility inspections do more than look for defects, they keep vulnerable people safer.

CLIPP™ Keeps Inspectors Educated

In addition to getting your certification and growing your business, the Institute says that becoming a certified CLIPP™ inspector satisfies some NAHI continuing education requirements. So while you earn your CE credits like you always do, you’ll also gain a valuable industry certification that sets you apart from other inspectors.

The Living in Place Institute wants to help inspectors and others in the industry stay on the cutting edge. That’s why certified members of the program receive educational updates as they become available. There’s also related course material through the Institute, both online and available in a classroom setting.

Institute Guidelines Differ from the ADA

Accessibility isn’t a new idea. The American’s with Disabilities Act set forth requirements that affect public buildings and spaces where accessibility is an issue. But most homes have been altogether something different, as those guidelines don’t apply to private residences.

The Living in Place Institute hopes to expand the idea of accessibility to more residences, which will allow aging people and those with disabilities more options, particularly the option of living their own home. According to ASHI Reporter, this training isn’t just worth it, it’s a higher and better standard than anything else available.

At its broadest interpretation, at least right now, the Institute envisions a real estate market where accessible homes are a true niche. That way, home buyers could have a much larger pool of safe, appropriate and comfortable homes from which to choose, instead of only one or two, or even none at all.

If you’re an inspector interested in learning more about CLIPP™ or getting started with training during the next available class, you can email the Living in Place Institute, or call them directly at 1-888-467-3220.

Inspection clients put stock in your report, so help them understand what it means and what it doesn’t.

By the time a home inspection happens, buyers are typically either in love with the property or at least hoping it will pass muster. The realities of what they’re about to buy can come crashing down hard if they’re not prepared for common issues that don’t necessarily mean the house is a money pit.

No one wants to be the harbinger of bad news, and no inspector wants to be known as a “deal killer.” That’s why helping clients understand the scope and limitations of your job can better inform them about the investment they’re about to make.

Here are 3 points that can clarify the home inspection process, manage client expectations and help them realize the importance of the report that they just purchased:

#1: All Homes Have Problems

The existence of a defect doesn’t necessarily spell doom, but some clients will waver as if the report is an outline of all of the home’s costly and dangerous failures. It’s just a report, and the report is just the facts as you find them.

Home inspection clients need to know that an inspection report will likely reveal at least a few defects. Real Simple lists several flaws, such as nasty carpet and outdated appliances, that turn buyers off when maybe they shouldn’t. Even a brand new house where the paint is barely dry will almost invariably have a problem or two, and that doesn’t mean it’s not worth the investment.

Just because the HVAC unit is older doesn’t mean it’s a disaster waiting to happen. It might just need servicing.

#2: Most Problems are Fixable

Unless the house is falling down around your ears, most defects are repairable. There are notable exceptions, of course. But a bad roof, broken windows, malfunctioning HVAC unit, and rickety staircase handrail are all within the repair or replacement scope of a professional contractor.

The question usually isn’t whether it’s possible to fix the defect, but whether fixing it is worth the time, money and effort. Some defects are bargaining chips that the buyer could use to secure a better deal, but there’s no way for the inspector to have that information. Bargaining and repairs are discussions for the buyer to take elsewhere.

#3: There is No Magic 8-Ball

“Outlook Not Good” isn’t an option in home inspecting, because inspectors, at least most inspectors, can’t predict the future. Trying to can land you in a lot of hot water, so Realtor.com® says most inspectors just won’t do it. Although clients might expect and ask for predictions, such as how long the roof will hold up or when the HVAC unit will finally give out.

A roof that looks perfect could spring a leak tomorrow. And a house that’s teetering on a cracked foundation might hold steady for 100 more years. There’s no way to know for sure. That said, some defects really are red flags. While you still can’t predict, you can strongly advise them to seek the counsel of a professional contractor for further analysis and repair options.

Most home buyers only deal with inspectors a few times in their lives. And because each home purchase is a stressful and busy time, they might not remember from one to the next what the inspection experience was like.

You can help them get a better understanding of what you do, which goes a long way toward managing expectations and understanding their inspection report. It’s theirs, after all, and they should know its value in the home buying process.

You don’t have to dress up, but it’s a good idea to look neat and professional for the job.

Home inspecting can be a dirty job, but do you really want to meet a client wearing your Saturday worst? Maybe worse than that is dressing up too much, considering that you’re going to get dirty. There has to be a happy medium.

Your inspections should be the focal point of your business. Any client that you meet will certainly be more interested in your report than what you wear while preparing it. But your appearance represents your business, so that’s an important layer for your public relations efforts. You’ll want to look your best. Here’s why, and how to do it.

Would You Want You for an Inspector?

Imagine that you’ve hired an inspector who is a total stranger. And then imagine that he or she arrives at the home wearing what you currently think is appropriate. What would your impression be?

Perception is everything for a small business owner. Working RE magazine says that extremes don’t do you any favors, regardless of which direction they’re in.

An inspector who shows up wearing dirty or unkempt clothing poses a few problems for a prospective client, even if you think that dirty clothes are perfectly normal for the job. First, the inspector doesn’t exude much professionalism, regardless of the level of experience. And second, a messy inspector doesn’t appear to have much respect for him or herself, which translates to little respect for the house and client.

On the other hand, imagine that the inspector shows up wearing sharply pressed business attire and shiny shoes. The client might then imagine that the inspector can’t or won’t do a very thorough job. Take a look in the mirror and be honest: Would you want you for an inspector?

Shoes that clean up well won’t make clients worry about dirt tracked in the home.

What’s Most Appropriate for Inspectors


Too casual and too dressy options are out, but that leaves a lot of ground in the middle. The right balance is clean, obviously, and well-maintained clothing that you can launder and wear again and again.

Some inspectors like a uniform look. Tidy work shirts, such as the time-tested Dickies or something similar, stand up to repeated washings and stay looking great. Working RE also says that a nice but casual button-down shirt (skip the tie) works well, and so do polos. Any of these styles let you embroider your name or logo on the chest, which promotes your business.

With shirts out of the way, what about pants? Dickies still work well, as do any khakis or utility pants in the traditional uniform colors of tan, navy or black. Jeans can look just as appropriate for the job as long as they’re not faded out or damaged.

Now about those shoes. Guessing that you won’t wear flip flops, wing tips or ballerina flats, you’ll need something that looks good and protects your feet from hazards. You never know what you’ll encounter at any house, so a good pair of work boots or work shoes could save you. Steel toes aren’t necessary, but a steel shank is a good idea. If you step on a nail, Workboot Authority says the thin metal shank will block it. Add in Electrical Hazard (EH) protection, and you have a well-rounded shoe.

What you wear isn’t as important as the job that you do, but appearances do go a long way. There are likely many inspectors who don’t pay much attention to their clothing and still get plenty of business. But a clean, neat inspector who is dressed appropriately for the job won’t offend anyone. Show up in shorts and flip-flops, and that might not be the case. There’s no reason to take that risk.

If only it was this easy to spot one.

Just when everyone least expects it, a natural disaster strikes. That’s how they work. There’s rarely any real warning, and residents are often left in a wake of damage without a clue about getting it repaired or finding federal relief. That creates the ideal climate for scam artists, and some of them pose as disaster inspectors.

Although most inspectors are totally above board, the bad eggs make life difficult for everyone involved. Here’s what’s happening in this part of the home inspection industry right now.

Unscrupulous Individuals Pretend to Work for FEMA

There’s only one way to become a disaster relief inspector for FEMA, and that’s by working through one of the two companies that they contract. PB Disaster Services and Vanguard EM are the only companies that FEMA uses, and they (not FEMA) are responsible for training and hiring.

A scrupulous inspector will have an official badge, and they never inspect for a fee. They only require an owner’s proof of identification and ownership of the house, and never any banking info. But homeowners rarely know this, and believe that to qualify for FEMA relief they’ll have to pay for an inspection. They also provide the homeowner with verifiable contact information.

Local contractors with a good reputation give home owners some peace of mind.

Shady Inspectors Really Work for Someone Else

Scamming homeowners out of money for an inspection is only one way that fraudulent inspectors rob from disaster victims. FEMA says that referrals to a repair contractor could be the real motivating factor.

Just as a typical home inspector doesn’t recommend repair people, disaster inspectors never recommend contractors. They also avoid assigning a dollar amount to any damage. They only collect information, which FEMA uses later to calculate relief.

You Can Help Home Owners Protect Themselves

As a working home inspector, you have the opportunity to educate residents about the possibility of disaster fraud. American Family Mutual Insurance offers the following advice:

Homeowners should also wait for FEMA instructions before agreeing to any repair work. And when it’s time for repairs, local contractors who have been in business in your area for a while are the safest bet. Plenty of traveling home repair scam artists prey on homeowners, especially after a disaster.

As a home inspector, you already know that integrity is worth its weight in gold. But from a home owner’s point of view, it’s sometimes difficult to know who is telling the truth. After the stress of experiencing a disaster, many homeowners are even more vulnerable.

This is why FEMA needs good and reputable home inspectors in their ranks. If you want to learn more about it, check our their page on becoming a disaster inspector.