Don’t Become an ASHI Ghost

Your ASHI Website Profile Benefit

Having your profile on the new ASHI website can bring you more inspections. Your profile is available 24/7 to
help potential clients find you using the ASHI Find an Inspector search function. It is your responsibility,
however, to make the most of this benefit. If you do, the additional inspections that you perform will more than pay
for your ASHI dues. Members report that they are receiving many more leads from the new ASHI website.

At the time this article was written (late August 2020), most ASHI members appear in the Find an Inspector search
results, depending on the location entered by the consumer. In order to better serve the consumer, the ASHI Board of
Directors has decided to change the requirements that ASHI members must meet before they will appear in the Find an
Inspector search results. These new requirements are:

• ASHI members who perform home inspections in states that require a license to perform home inspections must
  have their license number and license expiration date on file with ASHI for every state in which they perform
  inspections. For example, if you perform inspections in both North Carolina and South Carolina (both states require a
  license), you must have both your North Carolina and South Carolina license numbers and expiration dates on file with
  ASHI. The effective date of this change is 15 September 2020.
• ASHI Associates will no longer be listed in the Find an Inspector search results.Only ASHI Certified Inspectors
  and ASHI Inspectors will appear in the search results. The effective date of this change is 31 December 2020.

ASHI is here to help you through this transition. It is your responsibility, however, to take the actions that
are necessary to keep your profile in front of potential clients. Please don’t become an ASHI ghost with no
visibility on Find an Inspector.

Please don’t become an ASHI ghost with no visibility on Find an Inspector.

Entering Your License Information

Entering your license information is easy on the new ASHI website. Just follow these steps.

1. Go to the ASHI website.
2. Log in with your member number or email and your password (top right of the page).
3. Click on the Dashboard tab (top right of the page).
4. Click on Edit Member Profile.
5. Scroll down to the State Licensing box (bottom of the page).
6. Enter all of your home inspector license numbers and expiration dates.
7. Click the certification statement box.
8. Click Save Changes.
9. Remember to update your licenses every time you renew them and receive a new expiration date, and if you let your
   license lapse.

While you’re in your profile, please take the opportunity to update your profile. You are more likely to get more
leads from your profile benefit if you enter a complete and accurate profile.

Membership Level Requirements

ASHI has three membership levels. These levels are (highest to lowest):

1. ASHI Certified Inspector (ACI)
2. ASHI Inspector
3. ASHI Associate

Each level increases your prestige, and increases your visibility in Find an Inspector search results. ACIs appear
first in Find an Inspector search results, then ASHI Inspectors, then ASHI Associates (until 31 December 2020). After
31 December 2020, ASHI Associates will no longer appear in Find an Inspector search results.

ASHI encourages all members to become an ACI, and ASHI is here to help members achieve this lofty goal. It is your
responsibility, however, to do the work that is necessary to improve your membership level.

The following chart presents the basic qualifications for each membership level.

1. Passing the NHIE is required for ASHI Inspectors who perform home inspections in states that do not
require a license to perform home inspections. This is not required for ASHI Inspectors who hold a current state
home inspector license.

Upgrading Your Membership Level to ASHI Inspector — Licensed States

If you are an ASHI Associate, and if you have a state home inspector license in any state, you are well on your way
to becoming an ASHI Inspector, and continuing to appear in Find an Inspector search results. If you have performed at
least fifty fee-paid inspections, including certain types of parallel (ride-along) inspections, that’s great. You
probably have only a couple of easy steps to go. If you have not performed fifty inspection, keep working at it.

By the way, if you need advice, ASHI has a great new mentoring program. Information about this program is under the
Resources tab in the blue ribbon at the top of the website home page.

One of the steps is to have five reports verified for substantial compliance with the ASHI Standard of Practice for
Home Inspections (ASHI Standards). The other step is to sign a sworn, notarized affidavit stating that you have
completed the required number of fee-paid inspections.

Here’s how to submit your five reports for verification.

1. Convert reports to a PDF if they are in another format, such as HTML. This may be necessary if you use services
   such as ISN and Homegauge. There is usually an option in these services to print or export the report as a PDF. Check
   with your service if you need help.
2. Go to the ASHI website.
3. Log in with your member number or email and your password (top right of the page).
4. Move over the Members tab in the blue ribbon at the top of the website home page.
5. Click on the Report Verification
   Portal option in the drop-down menu.
6. Upload your five reports.
7. Wait to hear if your reports have been approved. If approved, proceed to the affidavit step. If not approved, you
   will be provided with information about where your reports did not substantially comply with ASHI standards. You will
   need to upload five more reports for verification.

After your five reports have been approved as substantially complying with ASHI Standards, you will need to submit a
sworn, notarized affidavit stating that you have performed the minimum number of inspections required for the
membership level. For ASHI Inspectors, that number is fifty. Here’s how to complete this task.

1. Request the affidavit by either sending an email to membership@ashi.org,
   or by calling ASHI headquarters at 847.759.2820.
2. Receive the affidavit from ASHI.
3. Take the affidavit to a Notary Public, or to a similar person who is authorized in your state to administer oaths
   and attest to your identity.
4. Have the affidavit notarized.
5. Return the notarized affidavit to ASHI.

After ASHI headquarters receives your affidavit and confirms that you have attained all of the required
qualifications, you will receive confirmation by email and by postal mail that you have achieved your upgraded
membership level. Congratulations on a job well done!

Upgrading Your Membership Level to ASHI Inspector — Unlicensed States

If you are an ASHI Associate, and if you do not have a state home inspector license in any state, you need to
complete the report verification and affidavit steps that we previously discussed. In addition, you need to take and
pass the National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE).

This additional step is necessary because if you have a state home inspector license, you have taken and passed
either the NHIE or an exam developed by the state licensing board. ASHI believes that taking and passing one of these
exams is one of the necessary qualifications to demonstrate knowledge of home inspection-related topics.

The NHIE is developed by the Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors. Go to the National Home Inspector Exam Homepage for more information about how to
study for, take, and pass the NHIE.

Upgrading Your Membership Level to ACI

ASHI strongly encourages all members to strive for ACI status. This certification provides the prestige of an
independently verified home inspector certification. You may elect to go through the ASHI Inspector level on your
journey to ACI, or may elect to jump right from ASHI Associate to ACI.

The primary differences between the ASHI Inspector and ACI levels are the requirement to perform at least 250
fee-paid home inspections, and the requirement to pass the NHIE, if you have not already done so. The steps to apply
for ACI status are the same as for ASHI Inspectors in unlicensed states.

Insider Tips — How to Get the Most from Find an Inspector

ASHI’s Find an Inspector benefit can bring you inspections that will more than pay for your dues. I get several
inspections per year, and I’m semi-retired. I could get more if I worked at it.

Find an Inspector works best if you take the time to present yourself to those who are looking for you. Here are some
insider tips.

• Upgrade to ACI level. ACIs appear first in the search results.
• Fill out your profile completely. Sell yourself and your expertise. Upload pictures to display on your profile
  page; people love pictures. Be sure to include your website, contact information, and all of your social media pages
  and accounts.
• Consider carefully where you want Find and Inspector leads to come from, then enter your Find an Inspector
  address near the center of that area. Find an Inspector displays results starting with the least distance between
  your Find an Inspector address and the address entered by the consumer. If your Find an Inspector address is closest,
  you appear first in the search results. Your Find an Inspector address can be different from your mailing address.
  You can adjust your Find an Inspector address in the box near the top of your profile page.

The Bottom Line

Having your profile on ASHI’s new website is one of ASHI’s best benefits. It is your responsibility to make it
work for you. ASHI staff is here to help you. Contact staff at membership@ashi.org or 847.759.2820.