Electrical – School of Professional Home Inspection

1.4 Million Electrical Panels Recalled Due to Thermal Burn and Fire Hazards

Square D Plug-on-Neutral panel Recall Date: June 16, 2022 When working in a trade like home inspection you need to keep up all the time with the latest building news. Thanks to Charles Buell for bringing this to our attention.A few days ago the Consumer Protection Safety Commission released this Read more…

By JJ Greive, 3 yearsJune 22, 2022 ago

Electrical Safety Tools

Voltage Tester Tricks, They Can Fool You

Source: Reuben Saltzman, Structure Tech Home InspectionThis is one of the easiest voltage testers to use this is something a homeowner ought to have. A contactless voltage tester is going to tell you if something is or isn’t energized. The one drawback to these is they’re great they’re really really good Read more…

By JJ Greive, 3 yearsMarch 13, 2022 ago

Electrical Field Training

When Electrons Go Bad

Holy smokes that’s one burnt up meter. Gives you great respect for the power of electricity. There was a failure at the transformer that transformed the house. ” The transformer at the pole blew out that powered the home. My electrician friends, what could cause this? Fried the service feeder Read more…

By JJ Greive, 5 yearsJuly 29, 2020 ago

Academy Electrical Testing

Electrical Quiz on Zoom

We cover so many new topics for our students that we spent extensive time taking quizzes. These are great learning experiences and allow us to see the progress of our students as they are learning their new skills. This is a Zoom Quiz we had and our students really show Read more…

By JJ Greive, 5 yearsJuly 23, 2020 ago

deferred cost Electrical

What a Beauty!

This is a live panel, still working after 100 years. Just a few dangerous things in here, like live conductors everywhere and a little asbestos liner too boot.

By JJ Greive, 5 yearsJanuary 31, 2020 ago

Electrical Home Safety

Interesting Day Out in the Field

This million plus dollar home had a lot of issues, just because a home is expensive and beautiful doesn’t mean it doesn’t have problems. This home has a regular basement flooding problem, so the homeowner decided to install a sump pump that dumps into a bathtub! It is wrong on Read more…

By JJ Greive, 7 yearsMay 16, 2018 ago

Electrical Inspection Safety Safety

Inspector Killed on the Job in Florida

We lost a colleague the other day in Florida. This tragedy reminds us to always use the utmost care when inspecting homes. He was killed using a pole camera when it touched a power line. There are dozens of items we look at that where there can be significant risks. May William Spear rest in Read more…

By JJ Greive, 7 yearsMay 5, 2018 ago

Academy defective products Electrical Home Safety Uncategorized

Interested in Becoming a Home Inspector? Class Begins February 26th, 2018!

Interested in a Home Inspection Career? School of Professional Home Inspection (SOPHI) is your first step toward becoming a Licensed Home Inspector, offering interactive and informative course material taught by experienced professionals who truly value your long-term success, even beyond the classroom. Whether you plan to join an established team Read more…

By JJ Greive, 7 yearsFebruary 5, 2018 ago

Electrical plumbing That don't look right

Unique Water Heater Install

In case you didn’t know, you don’t plug in water heaters with a dryer cord! I love the taped up connection, the things homeowners will do!

By JJ Greive, 8 yearsDecember 28, 2016 ago

Electrical That don't look right

Just Wow! No More Blowing Those Pesky Breakers

This is just crazy.. Really what could go wrong? I hope the power was off when this brilliant handyman hooked it up. I actually did not take this picture, but it appears to be a main feeder to a service panel. In most cases those big wires should have 200 amps Read more…

By JJ Greive, 8 yearsDecember 27, 2016 ago

Electrical

Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCI)

The “AFCI” is an arc fault circuit interrupter. AFCIs are electrical devices designed to protect against fires caused by arcing faults in the home electrical wiring. THE FIRE PROBLEM Annually, over 40,000 fires are attributed to home electrical wiring. These fires result in over 350 deaths and over 1,400 injuries Read more…

By JJ Greive, 10 yearsAugust 24, 2015 ago

Electrical Home Safety

Knob and Tube Wiring

Knob and Tube Wiring Knob and tube wiring in an attic, with NM cable spliced to it. This circuit was not designed to carry the extra load newer wiring may demand. All these junctions should be made in an enclosed box. Knob and tube wiring was the earliest standardized Read more…

By JJ Greive, 10 yearsAugust 24, 2015 ago

Electrical Home Safety Uncategorized

GFCI’s are Critical Items to Inspect

One of the most important items on an inspector’s list are the GFCIs, or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter . Get hands on training from local Home Inspection Professionals. Next class starting September 8th Sign up TODAY.

By JJ Greive, 10 yearsAugust 1, 2015 ago

Electrical

Electrical Inspection Room-by-Room Cheat Sheet

Home Inspector Tip sheets General Guidelines Electrical codes are in place to protect you, the homeowner. These general guidelines apply to new installations and will give you the basics of what electrical inspectors are looking for. Be sure to check with your local electrical inspector because local codes may vary Read more…

By JJ Greive, 11 yearsJanuary 3, 2014 ago

Electrical

Home inspection Tips: Home Electrical Service Size – How to Get it Right

Working on this very technical subject I came across this article. It is one of the best explanation I have ever read on the it. Original posting from: Trevor Welby-Solomon RHI, CRP, VP Pillar to Post • www.pillartopost.com Home Electrical Service Size – Do you know what it’s all about? Most people Read more…

By JJ Greive, 11 yearsDecember 14, 2013 ago

More Great Reviews

Steph B.

Positive: Communication, Professionalism, Quality, Value,
JJ and Suzanne are awesome teachers! I highly recommend to anyone looking to learn the ins and outs of Home Inspection! I really enjoyed this class! Thank you for being so patient and thorough!

Brandon B.

Suzanne and JJ are great! It was a pleasure to take this class. They have great insight into local practice that is very useful in this market. I have been on well over 300 inspections as a real estate agent and learned a ton from them. Highly recommended if anyone is interested in persuing home inspection training. It was like a firehose of information coming at you but they took the time to answer all questions and help explain things in ways that were understandable. Even though it was a long class it was bittersweet to finish it. I rather enjoyed showing up everyday to learn something and didn't feel it was overwhelming or a chore. They made it enjoyable and easy to follow along with. Thank you guys so much and I am sure I will be talking again with you!

John T.

Positive: Communication, Professionalism, Quality, Value
I attended the Home Inspection Fundaments course after finding the School of Professional Home Inspection on the department of licensing website. JJ and Suzanne were both great teachers and have a lot of great stories that really give you insight into the types of issues you will encounter as a home inspector.
I had a construction background going into this, but there was still so much for me to learn. This school gave me a great foundation (pun intended) for what I needed to know to pass the National Home Inspector Exam. My only advice to anyone who is planning to take this course is to take as many notes as you can and keep them organized. Study after hours. Take the practice quizzes that JJ provides to all of his students. Get lost on Google and YouTube for hours at a time learning about all the different systems in a home and construction materials/methods that are no longer acceptable by current standards. Open your mind and get excited about learning all of these new things and it will help you excel.

Best of luck to anyone just beginning this journey.

Thanks again guys!

Ryan F

Positive: Communication, Professionalism, Quality
I dislike schooling with a passion. Never has been one of my strong suits. This course offered by JJ and his wife Suzanne feels more like sitting around the dinner table with your family than it does a classroom. You get the joy and laughs while great information is passed around. Questions, no matter how silly you may feel they are, get answered in a way easily understandable. The content of the course is pretty thorough and in depth. You get to learn about the standards the state has, industry standards adopted by multiple outfits, varying business models and practices in use today by others and they have access to dozens, if not hundreds of real estate agents, inspectors, contractors, etc that can answer questions or help point you in the right direction. I wouldn't hesitate to sign up for this class if you were serious about getting the best shot at getting your License.

Thank you

Zachary M.

Positive: Communication, Professionalism, Quality, Value
JJ & Suzanne offer an extremely high level of knowledge both in what is required and what can be expected of a Home Inspector. They are great teachers and it is clear that they are doing something that they love...Helping people. They also gave me a clear idea of the other opportunities that Home Inspectors have to serve their communities like becoming a Structural Pest Inspector as well. I really appreciated learning about all the things that they learned the hard way... All of those real-world experiences that they shared were priceless. I also appreciated learning some of the ins and outs of working in the different areas around the Puget Sound. It was a complete package of knowledge that I would not have gotten from a national chain school. Thank you JJ & Suzanne and hopefully one day I will be on your extensive list of mentors for new Home Inspectors!

Dillon M.

I was worried the 120-Hour Classroom Hours crammed in 12 days was going to be grueling but it was everything but. I was genuinely surprised at the all around quality of every aspect of JJ and Suzanne's class. They exerted extreme hospitality throughout the entire duration of the class and always made sure we were comfortable and in the best position to learn. As a licensed professional and tradesman, I felt satisfied with their knowledge base pertaining to my specialization and in return, gave me confidence that everything else I was learning was proper and sufficient.

I do not believe any other Home Inspecting Course will be able to match what JJ and Suzanne have to offer and I am so sure of it, I'd be willing to bet a whole first year's worth of pay from the money I will make Home Inspecting against anyone that'd say otherwise!

Andrew K.

This was the best experience of my life! Very professional but relaxed environment. The information I learned in the time I was there was amazing. Money well spent!

Tim K.

JJ and Suzanne are by far the best home inspection instructors around, they prepared me for the test and ho to do a professional home inspection as well as setting up my business. I was successful my first year out thanks to them. Highly recommended!
Tim, AAA Home Inspections

John J.

The SOPHI instructors (JJ and Suzanne) were not only helpful in training and preparing our class for the State exam, but with my own launching into the home inspection business. I was impressed with the professionalism and patience shown to their students and clients. In between their busy personal and professional lives they have shown me that they truly care about their students and are willing to go beyond typical learning situations in order to help their students succeed.