Logomania: Let the Buyer Beware

If you are thinking of hiring a home inspector, please take five minutes to read this important article.

Anyone searching on the internet for a home inspector is going to find no shortage of home inspector websites, many of which are emblazoned with official looking logos of various national building code sanctioning and certification organizations. Obviously, home inspectors place these trademarks on their websites to enhance the credibility of the inspector in the consumer’s mind. Unfortunately, too often the inspector has no membership, certification, or permission to use the trademarks of these organizations in anyway, form, or fashion. So, the logos posted by some home inspectors on their individual websites may at best be misleading and at worst downright fraudulent.

The GAHI (Georgia Association of Home Inspectors) logo is sometimes misused by unauthorized persons and companies. The trademarks and logos of other highly respected certification and sanctioning bodies are also misused by unauthorized persons and companies including:

ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors). ASHI is the oldest national home inspector organization in the US.

ICC (International Code Council). The ICC creates the building codes adopted by most states and provides certification in the building codes for home and building inspectors.

NFPA (National Fire Protection Association). The NFPA is responsible for the creation of the National Electrical Code and many other codes and standards adopted by most states and many countries including the NFPA 101 the Life Safety Code.

Home inspectors earn the right to use the GAHI logo by completing a rigorous certification process that includes performance of at least 125 fee-paid home inspections and obtaining certification as a Residential Combination Inspector from the International Code Council (ICC). GAHI is the only home inspection organization in the country that requires its members to be “code certified.” To be fully vetted as a GAHI Certified Inspector the inspector must complete 250 fee-paid inspections. Given the high standards for certification by GAHI it is little wonder that some unscrupulous inspectors attempt to hi-jack the GAHI logo. Inspectors that engage in the unauthorized use of the GAHI trademark often do so under the guise of adhering to the GAHI Standards of Practice. The ASHI logo may be abused in a similar manner. Let the buyer beware.

The ICC logo is open to abuse because membership is open to anyone and as noted on the ICC website any member may “enjoy exclusive use of the ICC Member logo.” (This is also true of an NFPA membership). So, some inspectors become “members” of the ICC but have no code certifications from the ICC. As noted above, all Certified Members of GAHI hold a current certification as Residential Combination Inspectors from the ICC. To gain this certification in the building codes takes 100 or more hours of educational training in the codes and completion of four separate tests: structural, electrical, mechanical and plumbing. So, when interviewing an inspector who claims to be an ICC Member always ask, “What current code certifications do you have from the

ICC?” If the answer is “None.”, you probably want to move to the next the inspector on your list.

Another often used scam involves the ICC Residential Combination Inspector (ICC RCI) certification itself. As noted previously to obtain an ICC RCI certification, one has to complete four separate tests, one in each discipline of the residential code. Some inspectors will complete one of the required tests and then claim that they are “code

certified.” While this might be considered to be partially true, it is frequently used ploy used to mislead a consumer into thinking he is hiring a fully vetted ICC Residential Combination Inspector. The question to ask is, “Are you currently certified by the ICC as a Residential Combination Inspector?” Builders of new homes often require that the Buyer’s home inspector be an ICC RCI. Be sure you are protected and get a proper home inspection by hiring a home inspector who has a current ICC RCI certification.

Anyone seeking home inspection services should be skeptical and take the time to do a little research. Logos and trademarks are often misused. Inspectors may post logos of highly respected organizations on their websites to which they have no affiliation, membership, and/or certification. Don’t be fooled. Protect yourself, don’t be afraid to ask an inspector the nature of their relationship to any organization that they appear to be a member by posting a logo on their website.

If you do find a misleading or fraudulent use of an organization’s trademark or logo by a home inspector, please take the time to report it to that organization. GAHI diligently strives to protect the public and its members from those inspectors who use the GAHI logo without permission or certification. Please report any misuse of our logo to us at gahi89@gmail.com.

Welcome to GAHI!

Thank you for visiting our website.

Whether you're a home buyer, realtor, builder, municipal or professional inspector, you' will find that GAHI members are the most experienced, highest qualified and better trained professionals in the Georgia residential market today.

You are invited to spend a few moments to learn more about GAHI by visiting the various pages in our website.

Sincerely,

Russell Spornberger, President

Georgia Association of Home Inspectors Inc

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