Hargreaves Home Inspections, LLC
ABOUT ME
Several years prior to retiring from Frederick County Public Schools I began to consider pursuing home inspection as a second career. At the time, my daughter and son-in-law were in the process of purchasing their first home together in Hagerstown, MD. In the process they had two home inspections completed; the first on a home where the deal ultimately fell through, and a second on the home they eventually purchased. In looking through the reports provided by their home inspector, I was impressed by the detail and thoroughness. It included pictures of any defects found, as well as a detailed summary that noted potential safety risks and reminders to begin budgeting for future replacement of more expensive items. The report not only served as an important tool in negotiating the price of the home with the seller, but it also provided them with peace of mind during the most important purchase and investment in their lives.
As a career educator in Frederick County I worked as a classroom teacher for eighteen years, a school counselor for eight years and an assistant principal for the final six years of my career. As a licensed MD and WVA home inspector I plan to continue utilizing the attributes that helped me find success in each of my career roles in education; careful planning, attention to detail and an emphasis on building and maintaining strong relationships. I view home inspection as an important public service to anyone in the process of purchasing a home, but especially for first time home buyers. Combining my skills and experience in public education with my passion and interest in home improvement, I look forward to being able to assist you in the process of purchasing your next home!
MD License 10-34575
WVA License HI5275802-1122
Training and Qualifications
In order to qualify for a Maryland Home Inspector’s License the state requires that every applicant complete a 72-hour on-site (live) training course approved by the Maryland Commission of Real Estate Appraisers, Appraisal Management Companies and Home Inspectors. Once the course is completed, which includes having to pass the course exam, every applicant must pass the National Home Inspectors Exam with a scaled score of at least 500. Nationwide the current passing rate for first time exam takers is 55%.
I completed my on-site training course through AHIT (American Home Inspectors Training) over a 9-day period in January, 2022. Additionally, prior to completing the 81-hour live class I completed over 100 hours of online training, also through AHIT. This online course was offered by AHIT during the height of COVID when the state of Maryland waived the requirement of completing an approved course in a live setting. They provided the course as an additional training opportunity for anyone registered to take the live course. Once I completed both the online course and the on-site training course, including having to pass the course exam, I spent the next five weeks studying and preparing for the National Home Inspector’s Exam, which I passed on March 1, 2022 with a scaled score of 700.
Since March I’ve continued to complete additional professional continuing education courses through Internachi (International Association of Home Inspectors), the only accredited post-secondary school for home inspection training and licensing, including the following courses:
- InterNACHI Home Inspection Standards of Practice
- InterNACHI Code of Ethics
- How to Perform Roof Inspections
- Radon Measurement Profession Training Course
- Residential Plumbing for Inspectors
- How to Perform Residential Electrical Inspections
