Home inspection program

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Mar 29th, 2021 9:18 am

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Mar 28th, 2021 1:24 pm

Fatleo [OP]: Newbie; Sep 6, 2018; 16 posts; 11 upvotes

Mar 28th, 2021 1:24 pm

Home inspection program

Hi,
I have a year off for paternity and would like to study about home inspection. I found this website of the OAHI with the list of the approved colleges https://www.oahi.com/english/continuing ... leges.html. I also found this https://www.nachi.org/licensing-and-cer ... ca/ontario which is more cost effective. I wonder if anyone has done any home inspector courses and have any comments or reviews to help me start a lead.
More information: I am in bioscience but I am tired of my career. I have done some of the renovations in my own home and my rental because I am interested in building. I do not wish to be a full time certified home inspector but I don't think it is a bad choice of career either. I am trying to use this one year off to explore options for future careers.
I looked through the courses from some of the colleges and they just use the materials from Carson Dunlop with some discount I believe.
Thank you in advance for any help.
Leo

4 replies

Mar 28th, 2021 9:20 pm

Extrahard: Sr. Member; Nov 22, 2017; 990 posts; 746 upvotes

Mar 28th, 2021 9:20 pm

It's an unregulated sector. Being a good inspector is not something that can be done just by taking a course you need a few years of experience or need an older inspector to take you under their wing for a little while....and even then getting customers falls on your ability to sell yourself. Do you know any RE agents/lawyers/brokers that can give you consistent work? On a hot market like this agents are looking for inspectors that do the bare minimum and downplay problems? Are you comfortable with that?

Mar 28th, 2021 10:34 pm

Fatleo [OP]: Newbie; Sep 6, 2018; 16 posts; 11 upvotes

Mar 28th, 2021 10:34 pm

Hi, thank you for your reply. My wife does works for firms that deal daily with real estate so I do have connections. However, the reason I am doing this is mostly to gain knowledge and explore other options. I do enjoy doing renovations but I am always afraid of actually doing anything serious. By properly studying this, I hopefully will fight my fear. My goal is later to buy some properties for rental or flipping, so my friend (a real estate agent/contractor) recommended me taking some home inspection course to equip myself with some knowledge. I also told him that I wanted to get a realtor licence too but he advised me it is better for someone in my position to do the home inspector course instead then maybe some general contractor courses later so I could manage my own project.
So if it is an unregulated sector with not licensing requirements, will any courses work for me? I did more searches and there are so many organizations that certify home inspectors in Canada. However, the training that most colleges use is from Carson Dunlop (~4000$ cost). Wonder if you have any knowledge on the course? The one from internachi school (nachi.org) will only cost about 500$. Am I getting what I pay for in this case or it doesn't really matter?
Thank you

Mar 29th, 2021 4:23 am

Extrahard: Sr. Member; Nov 22, 2017; 990 posts; 746 upvotes

Mar 29th, 2021 4:23 am

Fatleo wrote: ↑ Hi, thank you for your reply. My wife does works for firms that deal daily with real estate so I do have connections. However, the reason I am doing this is mostly to gain knowledge and explore other options. I do enjoy doing renovations but I am always afraid of actually doing anything serious. By properly studying this, I hopefully will fight my fear. My goal is later to buy some properties for rental or flipping, so my friend (a real estate agent/contractor) recommended me taking some home inspection course to equip myself with some knowledge. I also told him that I wanted to get a realtor licence too but he advised me it is better for someone in my position to do the home inspector course instead then maybe some general contractor courses later so I could manage my own project.
So if it is an unregulated sector with not licensing requirements, will any courses work for me? I did more searches and there are so many organizations that certify home inspectors in Canada. However, the training that most colleges use is from Carson Dunlop (~4000$ cost). Wonder if you have any knowledge on the course? The one from internachi school (nachi.org) will only cost about 500$. Am I getting what I pay for in this case or it doesn't really matter?
Thank you

What I have read from your post points towards the direction of taking the cheaper course. So yes take the NACHI course which i believe got accredited recently from the canadian colleges and universities. NACHI also has public forums better suited to answer questions and has ways to put you in touch and network with other inspectors. I have heard positive things about the Carson Dunlop course from others. However, keep in mind no course substitutes for boots on the ground knowledge. These courses are designed for the broad North American market and from a construction / building science perspective local geographic regions differ a lot. Courses no matter the costs only provide a summary of general home inspections.

Mar 29th, 2021 9:18 am

Fatleo [OP]: Newbie; Sep 6, 2018; 16 posts; 11 upvotes

Mar 29th, 2021 9:18 am

Extrahard wrote: ↑ What I have read from your post points towards the direction of taking the cheaper course. So yes take the NACHI course which i believe got accredited recently from the canadian colleges and universities. NACHI also has public forums better suited to answer questions and has ways to put you in touch and network with other inspectors. I have heard positive things about the Carson Dunlop course from others. However, keep in mind no course substitutes for boots on the ground knowledge. These courses are designed for the broad North American market and from a construction / building science perspective local geographic regions differ a lot. Courses no matter the costs only provide a summary of general home inspections.

I just want to make sure that the information is correct. And I do agree that the on the job experience is the most important part. Thank you for your input. I will considering both options. My wife told me to do the one that is recognized and approved so maybe if I really want to do it on the site I could do it later on too plus I could get a tuition tax credit if I do it through the colleges which will offset the cost somewhat.

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