CREIA Endorses a Truthful Resume

In this electronic age, consumers can easily search the internet to find a home inspector to serve their inspection needs. As the most recognized and respected inspection association in California, the California Real Estate Inspection Association (CREIA), is advising consumers to validate the credentials of the Inspector they retain for their inspection. Unfortunately, as in any profession, some inspectors embellish their experience, credentials or affiliations in order to obtain business from unsuspecting consumers who come across their website. The old adage, “don’t believe everything you read” will serve you well here. The first question consumers should ask is not “how much do you charge?” but, “what are your qualifications?”  The difference in what home buyers pay for a professionally conducted home inspection may well be the least important consideration. Value from any inspection is dependent on the inspector’s knowledge, experience and dedication to the profession and you as the client.

CREIA endorses a Truthful Resume Policy for inspector members showing their credentials, experience and affiliations on their websites or marketing materials. This is to provide the consumer thruthful information when choosing an inspector. CREIA Inspectors must adhere to CREIA's Code of Ethics and follow the CREIA Standards of Practice developed by the association. These Standards of Practice have been recognized by the State of California, and are considered the source for Home Inspector Standard of Care by the real estate and legal communities. 

CODE of ETHICS in part; 

II a. Inspectors shall perform services and express opinions based on honest conviction and only within their areas of education, training, or experience. 

III. Inspectors shall avoid activities that harm the public, discredit themselves, or reduce public confidence in the profession. 

b. Inspector’s advertising, marketing, and promotion of services or qualifications shall not be fraudulent, false, deceptive, or misleading.

CREIA advises everyone to make sure to retain the services of a qualified, professional home inspector by using a Certified CREIA Inspector member to do a thorough, independent visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a home.

Since 1976, CREIA, a non-profit voluntary membership organization has been providing education, training, and support services to the real estate inspection industry and to the public.

CREIA requires its members to successfully take and pass a comprehensive written examination in order to provide proof of their knowledge and understanding of the many intricate and complex systems and components that make up a residential dwelling. The CREIA exam also includes questions pertaining to the CREIA Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics. In addition, each inspector member must complete 30 hours of continuing education each year. The CREIA exams are not taken over the internet, but at a proctored exam-center administered by the International Code Council (ICC), the same organization that writes and enforces the building codes throughout the country.  Twenty (20) of the 30 hours of Continuing Education Credits must come from “live” events, where the inspector has the ability to ask questions of the speaker and interact with their peers. No other home inspector association in the country has criteria equal to a CREIA inspector’s qualifications when they become fully certified members. CREIA provides the best educated inspector and one that is required to maintain both personal honesty and integrity to their profession.