If you can detect the attic opening, chances are you can gain access.

For whatever reason, some homeowners make accessing the attic more difficult than it ought to be. The most common method, which probably isn’t deliberate, is covering it with the same ceiling texture that many other homeowners can’t wait to get rid of. But whether or not the attic is sealed, you still need to access it.

Several hazards can exist in the attic. And without a thorough inspection, your report can’t be complete. Here are just a few things that you might find at the top of the steps:

#1: Wiring Hazards

It’s commonplace for electrical wiring to run through attic space. But unless you can see it, you can’t report on whether or not it poses a threat to the safety of your client. Wiring might be unsecured, and there might also be an outlet or two that repair or regular GCFI testing.

Beyond the wiring are potential hazards of electric appliances. If there’s a roof leak and it drips into a ventilation fan, how would you ever know? And what about plumbing vents. It’s not unheard of for one to terminate inside the attic instead of passing through the roof.

#2: Condensation Problems

Improper insulation can create a lot of problems, not the least of which is condensation in the attic. In extreme cases, so much water collects that it can mimic a roof leak. Water can also damage the home’s framing, which can cause your client a lot of heartache down the road.

Condensation can also ruin insulation. Once it’s wet, the fluffy fiberglass blankets and loose-blown materials stay wet long-term, and can never regain their fluff or insulating capacity.

The insulation might be right on track, but you won’t know until you get there.

#3: Subpar Insulation

Insulation isn’t good indefinitely, not unless it’s the expanding foam variety that fills the whole cavity and then hardens. For just about everything else, it’s got a shelf life because of the attic environment.

Insulation can settle over time, and it’s a magnet for debris. And if there have been varmints overhead, they’ve probably nested, had babies and left a mess behind. Insulation might be flattened, shredded, or deemed a health hazard.

#4: Mold Hazards

Where there’s dripping water or even heavy humidity in the attic, mold can’t be far behind. It’s the perfect environment for it. Poor ventilation often exacerbates humidity, and poor ventilation is also important for mold to grow.

Mold in the attic doesn’t stay there. It filters down into the house, where it can affect everyone in the family. It might not be the treacherous back mold, but any variety can trigger a severe allergic reaction.

#5: Air Leaks

Although attics need ventilation, it has to be the right kind. There’s a difference between a strategic vent and an ordinary air leak. One helps the home breathe and stay healthy. The other can wreak all sorts of havoc.

In colder climates, air leaks allow frost to build up inside the attic. Once the weather starts to turn and the frost begins to melt, water can rot the framework and sheathing, and it can also encourage mold growth.

Attics aren’t meant to be permanently sealed, no matter what a builder or homeowner tells you. If you’re prohibited from entering the attic, there’s not much that you can do about it. But you can note it in your report to cover your own back.

Where possible, take the additional measures and enter a sealed up attic space. Your inspection report can’t be complete without it, and your client will probably thank you in the long run.

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.

Regulations help consumers feel comfortable with the service that inspectors provide.

All that you need is to do a simple Google search and you’ll find numerous news and opinion articles about home inspectors. You’ll read about what clients should expect from an inspection, whether inspectors perform a good service, and how buyers should always beware.

The “beware” part of the equation comes up often because although most inspectors do a great job, there are some who don’t. When an inspector overlooks defects and gives an inaccurate report, the consumer is right to be concerned. So that begs the question: Just who regulates home inspectors?

Why Regulation is Important

In an industry that enjoys a lot of freedom, home inspecting isn’t free from regulation. At least not in all parts of the country. And that’s a good thing, both from an inspector’s point of view and for all of the customers who need a home inspection.

Regulation helps home inspectors stay on top of what’s important in the industry. Home systems change, new hazards are identified, and new products are developed. With a controlling body, all inspectors have equal access to new and important information about the service that they offer.

Regulation also helps inspectors provide a more consistent type of performance. The uniform regulations mean, at least in theory, that one home inspection will cover the same ground as another, and that each inspector who follows those regs will be up to date.

Through associations, home inspectors can learn from the Standards and also from each other.

Home Inspection Associations Started it All

Back in the earliest days, there was no regulation. That’s because home inspecting wasn’t a true industry, and the only people offering help to home buyers were a few contractors here and there and others who knew their way around residential property. But it didn’t take long until the need for some type of uniformity became evident. That’s when the first home inspection associations formed.

All national associations, and likely all state ones as well, have a set of rules called the Standards of Practice. The original Standards were developed by a few associations working together. Then as groups gained more of a following, each one fine-tuned the Standards to their needs and set them in place as the rules for members to follow.

Standards are largely the same from one association to another. Each set breaks down which parts of a home are required to be inspected, which parts are exempt and how the inspection is to be carried out. To maintain membership, inspectors are required to uphold the Standards with every home inspection.

Some States Have Licensing Requirements

Many areas regulate home inspectors through a state-run agency, often a licensing board. These boards might have any number of requirements, such as regular continuing education and even internships before the inspector is licensed to work solo.

Licensing boards vary to a much greater degree than home inspection associations do. Some are extremely strict. And some are not. Some states have no licensing board at all, which is one of many reasons why associations remain a relevant and vital part of the industry.

Some licensing boards set forth education requirements, too. That means a board might require certain courses, a set number of education hours, and it might have the power to approve (or not) a home inspection school for the purposes of licensing. Attend the right school, and you won’t have to worry about whether those requirements will be bet.

Although home inspecting is a largely a lone wolf kind of occupation, fewer and fewer inspectors work in an area where there are no regulations of any kind. Where a state agency isn’t in force, association membership is important. It adds a level of professional integrity that gives customers peace of mind and it helps inspectors do a better job.

Maybe you’re a tech pro, or maybe you’re not. Either way, you can have a great web presence for your inspection business.

A web presence isn’t just nice, it’s expected, especially with younger, millennial home buyers. Without a website, you stand to lose a lot of business. And if you think about it, it makes total sense. Your work depends on attracting customers to you. And that’s what a web presence does, as long as it’s done well.

Here’s how to get your name out there even if you aren’t entirely computer savvy.

Design a Great Logo

Your business logo is the way that the world recognizes you. Think of every famous brand that you know. They all have a mark of some sort that separates them from other companies.

The key to a great logo is simplicity. It’s tempting to get fancy with the design. But fancier logos are harder to duplicate once you’re ready to stamp them on work shirts, and they don’t look as crisp as something much simpler.

Don’t want to hire a graphic designer to make a logo? Don’t worry. There are plenty of websites that will do it for you. Some of them are free. Check out Graphic Springs, Logomakr, and logogenie to start. You might be surprised at how great your logo can look!

Get Busy With Social Media

Everyone has a Facebook page these days, and so should you. You can pay for advertising through Facebook, but you aren’t really required to. In fact, you can start a business page on the social media giant for free. If you’re not sure how to go about it, check out this Facebook tutorial.

The key to making a free account – or any account – work is consistency and content. Commit to making one post a day, even if it’s just a few sentences. And in that post, give your prospective audience something that’s valuable to them and interesting to think about.

Maybe it’s a link to an article about the importance of home insulation, or maybe it’s a short piece on common home hazards. There are volumes of articles about homes already written and online. Find some that you like, post a link to one each day, and reply when someone makes a comment. Social is all about the community, and you’ve got to show your community that you’re listening.

Blogging lets you share your knowledge about homes and home inspecting with your prospective clients.

Start a Professional Blog

Blogs are another thing that you can host for free. The best looking ones are managed by pros, but WordPress has templates that can help you create one that looks professional and not too fussy. All that you have to do to get started is fill in the template blanks.

There are two ways to use WordPress as a business. You can choose a paid business account, or one that’s free. Free business accounts don’t have as many features. But they still give you a great-looking blog that works the way your readers expect it to. No programming required on your part.

What is required is regular posts. Maybe you’re a prolific writer and want to add two or three new posts every week. Or maybe writing isn’t your strong suit and you’d rather limit it to once a week. Whatever your schedule, treat it like social media and be consistent. Here’s a great WordPress help page that will get you started, and links on the left side with lots of information about managing and promoting your blog.

Start a Website

Websites are a bit more involved than a blog, but they’re also not as involved. That’s not as contradictory as it might sound. Web design is a skill that you’ll probably want to pay for. Although there are free hosts that provide you with a 1-2-3 and done sort of template, a website created by a professional web designer usually looks and performs better.

Websites are less involved than a blog in that once they are up and running, they require a lot less maintenance. Each page is what’s known as a static page, which means you don’t have to update it unless the information becomes outdated. For example, a page with your inspection rates would require an update if your rates go up. Otherwise, there’s no need for a weekly post.

Websites are also great because they allow customers to book appointments online. If a prospective home buyer is losing sleep and scanning the Internet for a home inspector, he won’t have to wait until morning to call during business hours. And you can wake up to a new appointment on the books. Inspection Support Network offers a great home inspection booking software package that’s recommended by NAHI.

You can avoid a web presence, at least in theory, but it’s not a very good idea nowadays. Your clientele is online. Many of them are online a lot. Remember all of the millennials who grew up with the Internet? They’re buying homes now. And you can place your business in front of their eyes.

What a home inspection costs buyers on the front end is nothing compared to what it might save them.

You know that your work is important. But do you know how much money a home inspection could save your customers? Aside from the largest amount, which is the sale price of a rotten old house, there are lots of potential costs that heeding an inspection report could avoid.

Here are a few of the most costly home defects that an inspection can identify. If the buyer heeds your word, you could help give her the foundation to negotiate a better sale price, arrange for repairs and avoid a major problem later, or walk away to find a better house with fewer lurking problems.

Roof Damage

The average lifespan of a typical asphalt shingled roof is somewhere between 15 and 30 years. It all depends on the climate and weather extremes, says Bob Vila. In a mild climate that’s not prone to severe weather, shingles could stick around for a while. But roof damage is rarely cheap to repair.

Missing shingles, obvious impact damage and especially evidence of leaks inside the attic are warning signs that the roof is under a lot of stress. The average cost of a roof replacement is between $4,602 and $8,766, according to Home Advisor. That’s a hefty price, so a buyer might renegotiate a better price for the house or opt to walk away. Left unrepaired, the buyer would ultimately pay for a new roof plus any further damage that emerged from leaks.

Electrical Wiring Issues

Electrical problems are nothing to mess around with. Some homes need a little update to meet local code. And some need a major overhaul to the tune of a total house rewiring job. Old wiring that’s in safe condition isn’t a defect. But old wiring might also fail to support all of the electricity demand that comes with modern life.

Signs of electrical wiring degradation or fire hazards call for a pro ASAP. Angie’s List says the typical cost to rewire a whole house could cost between $3,500 and $8,000, says Cost Helper, and that’s for an average house with no access issues. But the cost of not rewiring could be ultimate if there’s a fire in the future.

Maybe those are just superficial mildew stains. Then again, maybe they’re not.

Plumbing Leaks

A leaky pipe isn’t especially difficult to spot or repair, and it’s not a terribly expensive job. The problems arise where a leak has existed for a long time. Water can rot a subfloor and framing members in no time flat. That takes a small problem and turns it into a major one.

If the pipe is easy to access, repairing it might cost the homeowner as little as $50 to $250, according to Cost Helper, depending on what’s involved. For hard-to-reach pipes, such as those in a crawlspace or inside a wall, the price goes up steeply. If a plumbing leak is ignored, however, the costs could go as high as several thousand dollars or more, depending on the extent of the damage and cleanup requirements.

HVAC Problems

If there are problems with the HVAC unit, there’s at least a firm limit on how much the buyer would have to pay in the worst case scenario. That’s the cost of a new unit, which can be as high as $8,000 for a dual system heat pump, says Cost Helper. But sometimes repairs can save a unit and get a lot more life from it.

Neglected repairs account for a lot of untimely HVAC replacements. The average unit lasts about 16 years, according to This Old house, and that’s with proper maintenance. If the unit is on its last legs, replacement is the most likely option. If it’s just got an issue or two, a few hundred dollars and a service call could save a lot of money.

The important thing about a home inspection is that it gives your customer options. If a buyer knows that the HVAC unit is making a weird noise, she can talk with the seller and perhaps negotiate a better deal to offset the cost of replacement. Or maybe the cost of repair isn’t a major concern, but getting it done ASAP could save thousands in the long run.

Of course, the most dramatic scenario is where your customer learns that a house is riddled with costly defects and she elects to walk away from the sale. But however you look at it, home inspections can save buyers money both now and years from now.