Kaplan Graduate Benefits

Enhanced Home Inspection Course Outline
11 days - 90 hours*
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Course Description:
This comprehensive training program includes how-to inspect a home in accordance to the Standards of Practice of recognized professional organizations. Home inspections are an integral part the real estate transaction. This enhanced eleven-day, 90-hour training program has set the industry standard for more than a decade. Many state educational requirements are modeled after this proven educational curriculum. The course includes extensive pre-course homework, classroom presentations, hands-on training and field inspection work.

Learning Methodology:
Classroom theory becomes practical reality through the hands-on inspection of working furnaces, air conditioners, electrical panels and roof displays in the classroom. Instructors use their extensive libraries of digital photos to bring the "real world" to the classroom. Students also receive valuable field training while accompanying an experienced inspector on a residential home inspection. Finally, business development and marketing strategies are addressed to help the student launch a successful inspection business.

Day 1 - The home inspection business and scope

Goal: Upon completion of this class students will have an overall knowledge of the history of the home inspection business as well as an understanding of the scope of a residential home inspection.

Learning Objectives:

• Home inspection history
  
• Scope of a residential home inspection, including inclusions, limitations, and exclusions
  
• The home inspector's role in a real estate transaction
  
• Tools necessary for the inspector
  
• Overview of the business including, telephone enquiry, booking an inspection, presentation of the inspection, report delivery, payment/pricing, and business opportunities.
  
• Report writing - meeting standards, reporting style options

Day 2 - Structures

Goal - Upon completion of this class, students will be able to perform an inspection and write an inspection report compliant with recognized Standards of Practice on a residential exterior system and its components.

Learning Objectives:

• Foundation types and materials, signs and symptoms of normal wear, signs of structural issues, identification of defects, performance deficiencies and appropriate inspection techniques.
  
• Framing types and materials, (walls, floors, ceilings, and roofs) signs and symptoms of normal wear, signs of structural issues, identification of defects, installation practices, performance deficiencies and appropriate inspection techniques.

Day 3 - Exterior

Goal - Upon completion of this class, students will be able to perform an inspection and write an inspection report compliant with recognized Standards of Practice on a residential exterior system and its components.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify types of exterior finish materials, signs and symptoms of normal wear, defects, performance deficiencies and appropriate inspection techniques.

Day 4 - Roofing

Goal: Upon completion of this class student will be able to perform an inspection and write an inspection report compliant with accepted Standards of Practice on a residential roofing system and its components.

Learning Objectives:

• Roofing types and materials, signs and symptoms of normal wear, signs of leakage issues, identification of defects, performance deficiencies and appropriate inspection techniques.
  
• Roofing types and materials, signs and symptoms of normal wear, signs of leakage issues, identification of defects, installation practices, performance deficiencies and appropriate inspection techniques.

Day 5 - Plumbing

Goal: Upon completion of this class student will be able to perform an inspection and write an inspection report compliant with accepted Standards of Practice on a residential plumbing system and its components.

Learning Objectives:

• Plumbing system types and materials, signs and symptoms of normal wear, signs of potential issues, identification of defects, performance deficiencies and appropriate inspection techniques.
  
• Water and waste system types and materials, signs and symptoms of normal wear, signs of leakage or cross-connection issues, identification of defects, installation practices, performance deficiencies and appropriate inspection techniques.

Day 6 - Marketing & Sales

Goal: Upon completion of this class student will be able to choose a method(s) of marketing their services and be stimulated to explore innovative marketing venues.

Learning Objectives:

• Marketing methods and persistence.
  
• How to be different to succeed.
  
• Creating a niche
  
• Pitfalls to avoid for beginners
  
• Street Fighter Marketing

Day 7 & 8 - Electrical

Goal: Upon completion of this class student will be able to perform an inspection and write an inspection report compliant with accepted Standards of Practice on a residential electrical system and its components. Students will inspect numerous panels exhibited in the lab rooms.

Learning Objectives:

• Electrical system types, devices and materials, signs and symptoms of normal wear, signs of potential issues, identification of defects, performance deficiencies and appropriate inspection techniques.
  
• Panelboard system types and materials, signs and symptoms of normal wear, signs of overheating issues, identification of defects, installation practices, performance deficiencies and appropriate inspection techniques.

Day 9 - Heating - Part 1

Goal: Upon completion of this class student will be able to perform an inspection and write an inspection report compliant with accepted Standards of Practice on a residential heating system and its components. Students will inspect numerous heating units exhibited in the lab rooms.

Learning Objectives:

• Heating system types, devices and materials, signs and symptoms of normal wear, signs of potential issues, identification of defects, performance deficiencies and appropriate inspection techniques.
  
• Solid fuel heating system types and materials, signs and symptoms of normal wear, signs of overheating issues, identification of defects, installation practices, performance deficiencies and appropriate inspection techniques.

Day 10 - Central Air Conditioning & Heat Pumps

Goal: Upon completion of this class student will be able to perform an inspection and write an inspection report compliant with accepted Standards of Practice on a residential air conditioning or heat pump system and its components. Students will inspect numerous A/C and heat pump units exhibited in the lab rooms.

Learning Objectives:

• Cooling and heat pump system types, devices and materials, signs and symptoms of normal wear, signs of potential issues, identification of defects, performance deficiencies and appropriate inspection techniques.
  
• The refrigeration cycle, identification of defects, installation practices, performance deficiencies and appropriate inspection techniques. Also discussed during this module are insulation vapor retarders and ventilation.

Day 11 - Field Inspection

Goal: To observe an inspection performed by an experienced inspector and observe the completion of an inspection report compliant with accepted Standards of Practice on a residence.

Learning Objectives:

• Identification of defects, performance deficiencies, safety issues and appropriate inspection techniques.
  
• Observation of typical methods and procedures used during a typical home inspection.

Final Review

Goal: Upon completion of this review student will prepare to take the Kaplan final exam and/or National or State regulatory exams. Students learn through competitive fun through one if Kaplan's exclusive home inspector game shows.

Learning Objectives:

• Answering questions quickly based upon classroom and homework studies.

Evaluation:

Final exam is web based**, successful completion is required for a certificate of completion. Quizzes (not part of grade) are completed after the technical content modules for students to track learning.

* Course approval hours may vary depending on the approval of membership organizations or state regulatory agencies.

** Illinois and TX exams are on paper and proctored.