Thread: Midstate home inspections

Hi All. Just getting started, found this site by accident. I completed my AHIT training and now am going to take the National test on the 13th. I've worked as an electrician and in the HVAC industry and am tired of being downsized.
I have found a decent job in my area and plan on keeping it until I can establish myself as a home inspector. Any advice on taking the National exam? I've been studying most everyday. Dave W.

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When I took the exam I did it very soon after going to Home Inspection classes. From what I remember, it wasnt that easy, multiple choice, but all the choices were close to the correct answer.

Example:
How high off the ground does a deck have to be before it needs a railing (typically).(You will find out after checking this site out why I put typically.)

A 28"
B 29"
C 30"
D 32"

Originally Posted by David A. Walters

.
. Any advice on taking the National exam?.

.
Welcome David,

You'll do just fine

Review the material over the weekend before the test.

Some of the questions are The Best Answer of the offered solutions.

Don't second guess your first gut feeling.
* You know this Stuff.
.

Heres my advice. I did AHIT also and back then they had a book of questions from tests. Study those questions. I can remember that my wife would start to ask a question and I knew the answer. Thats my advice so, good luck and welcome to the profession.

Hey Fritz the only question about your advice is the IRC. I can't remember anything on the test that went to code. Thats a big undertaking to stud the IRC along with all the HO stuff that they will ask. I have my copy but I know that AHIT covers the HI things and not code. Maybe the test has changed since I took it so if thats the case please disregard this advice.

Originally Posted by William Brady

Hey Fritz the only question about your advice is the IRC. I can't remember anything on the test that went to code. Thats a big undertaking to stud the IRC along with all the HO stuff that they will ask. I have my copy but I know that AHIT covers the HI things and not code. Maybe the test has changed since I took it so if thats the case please disregard this advice.

What is a code question?

If you took the NHIE and had a question about the stairs and the proper rise and run for a set of stairs then guess what? You had a code question!

If you had question about the bonding of metallic plumbing pipes, you had a code based question.

If you had a question about safety glazing, you had a code based question.

If you had a question about GFCI's or AFCI's, then you had a code based question.

If you had a question about the required spacing of joist, then you had a code based question.

And the list can go on and on and on.... Just about everything a home inspector will do during a home inspection is related to a code. Yes, home inspectors do need to have an understanding of the building codes. This does not mean that you have to know them, just an understanding of them and also how to look items up.

Go to National Home Inspector Examination - EBPHI - References and you will find a list of references that are used by the SME's when they formulate questions.

A word of caution about some of the HI Schools...... I have noticed that some of the schools have not updated their basic material in years. Many do not really teach what is actually done out in the field or in real life. Do some research before you dive off into a school.

Originally Posted by fritzkelly

They gotta make it hard enough so that at least half the people need to pay to take it again. That means they throw in a bunch of questions that nobody (except maybe J.P.) could possibly answer.
When I had to take it, I had been doing home inspections for 5 years. I passed but it wasn't the piece of cake I expected. Others were failing left and right. Study your IRC and any other material they handed you.
Let us know how you do!

A test is only hard when you do not know the subject that is being tested.

Hello Scott,

I do not want to disagree with anything you said. All I was trying to do and the original post said he trained with AHIT is to say that that material from AHIT will cover all of the areas on that test. I did not know code, nothing about code when I trained with AHIT. I had no construction background. I studied the meterials they gave me and passed that test with a high score. They have it covered in my opinion there is no need to study code books for the national test. There is lots of study material available, for that test, studying the IRC for that test is very time consuning and unnecessary. Later on he can start looking at code if he chooses to. Stairs and the other things you mentioned in your response are all talking about in the AHIT meterial. I am in no way associated with AHIT I am just giving him what worked for me and trying to help him not to over do it.

I am sure that if he is studing all the things provided to him during his training and if he did what I did then it is lots of stuff. Going into that test I knew I had enought material in my head to make a 70 or amybe it was 75 and pass ASHI test. I wish him good luck and one thing more. I do not want to every have to study for it again. Once is enough. I also agree that material needs to be updated in some courses.

I think the biggest problem for people who've been in the field for awhile is that they forget the test is a test of basic knowledge and they forget to study the very basics thus flunking the test.

Here's an example: When is the last time you thought about the exact size of a drain under a kitchen sink or bathroom sink (lavatory). You know it when you look at it but when you're sitting in front of the test is 1 1/2" or 1 1/4" the right size where.


Know the basics!

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