Leading the Way 

March is Women’s History Month, and efforts to recruit and champion women in the home inspection industry continue at ASHI year-round. 

More women may be expressing interest in the field thanks in part to ASHI’s Women of the Home Inspection Industry (WHII) group, which launched at InspectionWorld 2023. A website, classes, and educational tools are all part of the program. 

The mission of WHII is to encourage the expansion of opportunities, inclusion, and support of women in the home inspection industry, according to 2026 ASHI President-Elect Lisa Alajajian Giroux. She hopes more women will continue to get involved now that they have this encouraging space. WHII aims to work as a central hub of resources, information, and ideas and as a place to communicate and foster collaboration.

Alajajian Giroux herself has been in the industry for decades. She started working for her father full-time in the construction business around 1983 and took her first home inspection class in 1997. She has been licensed in Massachusetts since 2000—since it was introduced into law. 

“The power and potential of this initiative not only opens the door but keeps it open for more women to grow and prosper within the industry,” Alajajian Giroux said. “Together we are stronger; with access, support, and opportunity, more women will see a career in home inspection as a viable and rewarding opportunity.”

The WHII group currently has more than 90 members. It’s estimated that 14% of all home inspectors are women, and WHII hopes to increase that to 25% in the next year through mentoring and education, Alajajian Giroux said. Planned quarterly events aim to establish a safe atmosphere to train, ask questions, and help each other grow in the home inspection field.

Members in Action 

In January, WHII’s own Chairwoman Rebecca Castro was busy working in LA to support people after and during the catastrophic fires. “The California fires hit thousands of homes and caused enormous losses for many homeowners. Now the question is—where do you go from here? Many people who have insurance go to their providers for help,” Castro said. “Before anything can be done, environmental testing must happen. This includes homes that were fully and partially burned down. It also includes homes still standing but affected by the smoke and debris.”

In addition to her work in home inspecting, Castro works with an environmental company doing a tremendous amount of testing for many insurance companies. “These jobs entail collecting soot and rubble samples and testing indoor air quality. We go onsite and collect as many samples as needed, per the EPA and the codes we follow,” she said. “This includes all building materials such as drywall and joint compound, thermal insulation, floor tiles, and more. We then send them to an accredited lab for testing. Specifically we are looking for asbestos in any of the materials that were burned or still standing. Depending on whether there is asbestos and how much rubble, the rubble must be disposed of properly per NESHAP and DTSC standards.” 

In other areas outside home inspection, Alajajian Giroux has also been working with recipients of Habitat for Humanity in Massachusetts to help educate first-time owners on how to maintain their new homes. “It’s all about safe and healthy home environments for the family,” she said. “We build strength, stability, self-reliance, and shelter.”

She hopes even more people will get involved in their communities. “Follow the leaders. Please let us know what you’re doing on the field, share your accomplishments, and share your great work with us,” Alajajian Giroux said. 

Learn more at whii.ashi.org, and check out future issues of the Reporter for longer inspector spotlights from ASHI’s WHII group.