Home Inspector Prospectus
Leading to the Level 4 Diploma in Home Inspection (Dip HI)
Welcome to our Home Inspector Flexible Learning Course Briefing
We are delighted to welcome you to our 8 month direct entrant course leading to the ABBE Diploma in Home Inspection.
property-careers.com is an independent company specialising in providing top quality packages of training and business support for those wishing to qualify as a Licensed Home Inspector.
Part of the LSL Property Services plc Group of companies, property-careers.com is the country's leading Domestic Energy Assessor and Home Inspector training organisation.
As independent experts, we coordinate your complete training package from start to finish. You will have the benefit of a fully supported and mentored route to qualification, a unique offering in the marketplace.
Flexible Learning Course
To become a Home Inspector you must demonstrate both your knowledge and your competence in the areas specified in the National Occupational Standards and this is achieved by passing the ABBE diploma in Home Inspection.
Designed with qualified Domestic Energy Assessors in mind, property-careers.com has developed a flexible learning course that provides a fast-track solution and a route to qualification as a Home Inspector in 8 to 10 months depending upon how much time you can devote to your studies.
The ABBE diploma in Home Inspection is a VRQ (Vocationally Related Qualification) equivalent to a Level 4 NVQ qualification. Delegates will need to be aware that they are expected to make a commitment of approximately 15 hours a week to studying. We fully appreciate that some delegates may progress through the course at a different pace to others.
We have developed this course in partnership with:
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The Qualification
ABBE Diploma in Home Inspection (Dip HI) is a VRQ, equivalent to a level 4 NVQ. It is at a similar academic level to an HND or degree.
Guidance Tips to help you understand this qualification
• Understand what is involved for you in this type of qualification
• It is known as a vocational qualification (vrq) which means that the process for you gaining the qualification is quite different from the traditional route you are likely to be familiar with.
• Vocational qualifications are aimed at people within the workplace and therefore the process becomes work-based. The Candidate is assessed by approved Assessment Centres by trained HI Assessors.
• Assessment is made on candidate's work not just by the results of an examination as in a traditional assessment route, but by a variety of different methods: observation of the candidate, questioning the candidate, candidate providing evidence of their work, witness testimonies of candidate's work by line managers etc.
• All Assessors will be occupationally competent and will be looking to assess candidate's work against the National Occupational Standards
• The Assessor will need to confirm the competency of the candidate's knowledge and performance against the qualification standards.
• To become a Home Inspector you will need to gain some additional knowledge and thus attend some training - an essential part being Home Condition Report Training (HCR), which is a crucial stage in the process.
• However, it is important to understand that you will not become a Home Inspector on the basis of attending a course on HCR - this is only one step in the process.
Who can become a home inspector
The Qualification is only open to qualified Domestic Energy Assessors but the process of achieving this qualification will vary dependent upon individual's background knowledge, experience and performance.
Thus the length of time it takes to complete the Award will vary from one candidate to another.
• It is imperative for all candidates to understand that their Portfolios of Evidence must still demonstrate these core competences for which they may have credit tariff, in other words, the whole assessment and exam processes cover all 5 Units of the National Occupational Standards.
The MOL distance learning Workbook
The workbook has the following section headings and can be completed over a study period of about 5 -6 months.
The workbook contains structured sections on construction related matters such as services, environment, thermal performance, planning, warranty schemes, property inspection as covered by the National Occupational Standards for Home Inspectors.
The workbook finishes with a section on Building Pathology which will then link in with all the practical workshops and practical training delivered by both MOL and property-careers.com.
Section headings:
1. Domestic property design and property Styles
2. Foundations
3. Floors
4. Walls-external
5. Walls-internal
6. Roof construction including Chimney Stacks
7. Windows
8. Internal Joinery (stairs and doors etc)
9. Finishes and decorations
10. Services - Gas and Electricity.
11. Services - Water, Drainage, and Heating
12. Protection from Damp and Timber Decay
13. Thermal Performance and Environmental Matters
14. Planning, Building and Fire Regulations.
15. Warranty Schemes
16. Home Inspections including Health and Safety Matters
17. Defects in common House Types.
The workbook is structured so that the candidate can undertake a considerable amount of self-checking of their understanding of the material by answering a range of questions linked to the text or set as a summary questionnaire at the end of each section.
Tutor Support
MOL, with its long experience of supported distance learning, recognise that despite this considerable level of self-checking built into the workbook, candidates will benefit from additional tutor support.
This is available through the year by telephone, email, fax or letter, whichever best suits the candidate. This allows candidates to work at their own pace at a time to suit themselves without the need to attend classes regularly, so that learning can be fitted around work and family commitments.
The Workshops
The 4 workshops in this part of the package are delivered jointly by MOL and property-careers.com during week-days and will cover:
- Building Construction of residential property and relates to sections 1-11 of the workbook.
- Building Defects/pathology and includes sections 12, 14-17 of the workbook.
- An introduction to the Home Information Pack, HCR reporting and Condition Ratings
- Legal aspects relevant to the home inspector, notably land law as well as health and safety matters, data protection.
(Lunch and light refreshments will be provided at all workshops).
Note:
We will supply more details of the flexible learning programme of Knowledge and Understanding separately during the Course Briefing.
property-careers.com Core HCR Training
A 2 day Practical training Course is hosted by property-careers.com to include:
- The Home Condition Report
- A practical overview of the role of the Home Inspector
- Introduction of the Concepts of Home Inspection
- Overview of the framework of the HCR
- The HCR Inspection conventions
- The Home Inspector Inspection and Reporting Requirements
- Taking site records -How far to go
- Owner enquiry - How far to go
- Specific practical workshop groups dealing with:
- Property Health and Safety Risk Assessment
- Collecting information from the property owner
- Inspection Routines and gathering evidence
- Report Writing and Condition Rating
- Report writing techniques
- Step-by-step explanation of the Government's Standard Text
- Adopting a consistent approach to Condition Rating judgements
- In-depth analysis of Case Studies
- In-depth Practical Condition Rating Exercises
- Completion of home inspectors standard site notes by each delegate
Delegates will have use of:
- The latest Quest Associates HCR software
- Our bespoke 3D "Virtual House" which enables a simulated HCR inspection, record site notes and prepare the written HCR using the latest standard phrases.
Portfolio Building
Towards the end of the practical training programme we will ensure that you receive appropriate advice and guidance to enable you to prepare and submit Portfolio evidence to your Assessment Centre.
This will cover the following:
- Match your evidence against the NOS
- Understanding the range of acceptable evidence
- How to meet the requirements of the National Occupational Standards
- The range of evidence required to pass the assessment
- Understanding and meeting the performance evidence requirements
- The effective use of witness testimony and candidate statements
- How to assemble other evidence of workplace performance
- How to claim credit for submitted evidence
- Effect of the Quality Assurance Matrix
- Understand relationships - You/Assessor
- How to build your portfolio using paper-based or eNVQ methods.
- Dealing with the accompanied Home Inspection
Assessment
Delegates will then be taken through to the next stage of the qualification process by introduction to an appropriate ABBE approved Assessment Centre for your Portfolio Assessment.
Our unique, neutral position enables us to select from any of the UK Assessment Centres based upon their capacity and ability to cater for your specific needs.
We will however, continue to mentor you throughout this formal Assessment process and provide additional support.
ABBE External Exam
Towards the end of the programme, the final one-day workshop is hosted by property-careers.com and covers preparation for the ABBE External Exam.
The course will cover:
- The format and type of Questions likely to be encountered.
- An overview of the key principles (construction, defects etc)
- Rehearsing Sample Questions
- Revision and exam techniques including practical tips
- Suggested Reading/revision list
The final External Exam is available on-line as a 1.5 hour multi-choice paper covering theory and case study questions on the HCR and being a home inspector.
On passing the final exam, you will have achieved the Dip HI and be able to apply for Certification as a Home Inspector.
What happens next
Our Flexible Learning Course is a 8-10 month programme which includes:
- 5-6 months academic study MOL Workbooks and
- The 4 one-day MOL workshops
- About 1 - 2 months for property-careers.com practical training (2 days + mentoring).
- 3 - 4 months for portfolio building and assessment
- The "Prepare for your Exam" Day
- Taking the ABBE External Exam
Fees
Please register you're interest with us.Introduced Business and Recruitment Services
property-careers.com is at the cutting edge of property training and recruitment, with a hard-earned reputation for integrity, professionalism and market awareness.
the-energy-portal, a division of property-careers.com, has been created to secure business for freelance Home Inspectors and Domestic Energy Assessors and provides flexible supply solutions to pack providers, estate agents, letting agents, solicitors and the public. Membership of the-energy-portal is free and automatic for our students and graduates once qualified and licensed.
For those seeking a direct route to employment, our full ranges of recruitment services are available.
For further information
Contact us or call us on free phone 0800 731 6804.
