Remembering Norman Becker

A leader in home inspection now guides us from a different platform. Norman earned a BS degree in mechanical engineering from Cooper Union and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Pennsylvania State University. He is a licensed professional engineer. He ran a home inspection company, Universal Home Inspection, for 25 years, during which time he helped found the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI).

For more than 20 years, he wrote the “Homeowner’s Clinic” column for Popular Mechanics magazine. In addition, he wrote three books; two of which were published by McGraw-Hill: The Complete Book of Home Inspection, which is in its fourth edition, and Home Inspection Checklists. The third book, 500 Simple Home Repair Solutions, is based on his columns at Popular Mechanics.

Norman passed at the age of 92 and leaves behind his wife, Renee. They were married for 61 years. They have two children—Jeffery and daughter-in-law, Ana Maria, and Piper and her partner, Maureen Scott. Norman leaves behind two grandchildren, Mia and Eli. 

Every home inspector in the US and beyond owes a tribute to Norman Becker. And every homebuyer might say that it was Norman who brought honesty into home buying. One must remember, before disclosure was introduced into home buying, the law of the land in home purchase was “Let the buyer beware,” for the largest purchase in their lives. Norman’s writings helped stop this terrible practice.

I remember Norman from early 1973, showing up at my office in Stamford, Connecticut, on a cold snowy winter night to assist in putting together a national voice for home inspectors. That humble beginning led into the realm of home inspection; it lit the fuse for formation of the American Society of Home Inspectors. ASHI would not be the respected voice in home inspection it is today if it were not for Norman’s input. He was a humble man with an extraordinary vision for those who were about to make the largest financial decision of their lives. 

There were several other contributors at those early meetings, no paid staff, and most did not get paid expenses to attend. Norman took on the most difficult task of all, and that was the establishment of the ASHI National Standard of Practice. Norman and his committee met at their own expense in New York City to put together the first Standard of Practice covering home inspections in the US. At the next ASHI conference at Rutgers University in New Jersey, where the first Standard of Practice in the US was introduced into the country, Norman was committee chairman. 

In the part of the US where I practice (Connecticut), the Standards that Norman introduced are used today to adjudicate cases. If you are in the home inspection or legal field, his first book, The Complete Book of Home Inspection is a must to be used as the bible in adjudicating legal cases when relating to home inspection and construction procedures.

Rest in peace, my long-time friend.

Ronald J. Passaro, Sr. founded ASHI in 1976 and is known as “ASHI Inspector #1.” He served three years as national president during ASHI’s early development and was selected as ASHI’s public relations and media representative for approximately a decade. Passaro spread ASHI’s mission to the print and electronic media on Good Morning America, NBC’s Dateline, and many others.He is also the first home inspector to receive a license in the state of Connecticut and holds a New York license as well. He is a nationally recognized expert in residential buildings and systems.