About half a million Americans are robbed of their identity each year by identity thieves. The consequences of their actions can result in severely damaged credit, and fixing it can cost hundreds of dollars and many hours of your time. The following methods can help you reduce your risk of identity theft.

1.     1.            The primary key to your credit report, bank accounts, and many credit card accounts is your Social Insurance Number. Guard it well and don’t provide it to just anyone or any company. Except in certain instances, companies don’t need your Social Security Number at all, so some identity theft experts recommend providing only the last four digits if a company wants it but isn’t required to have it. An example of companies that might require the full Social Security Number are companies that pay you money, either through employment, interest-bearing accounts (banks), or other means (sales on eBay or other Internet sites).
2.     2.            Your credit report contains your credit score, but more importantly it includes your Social Insurance Number, past and present employers, and your credit accounts and their corresponding account numbers, including those that have been closed. Unfortunately, virtually any individual or company can request a copy of your credit report for evaluating their risk of hiring you, renting to you, or providing you with a loan. In order to protect private information about you on your credit report, request that your Social Insurance Number on any application be truncated or obliterated and that your credit report be shredded in your presence or given to you once a decision has been made about your credit card, loan, or rental application. There is no reason for a lender or rental manager to retain anything other than your name and credit score to justify a decision.
3.     3.            Other than junk mail simply being annoying, a more pressing problem is that it brings many credit card offers to your door, sometimes on a daily basis. Identity thieves have become adept at using those offers to steal identities and money, and ruin people’s credit. Don’t just throw your credit card statements, bank statements, and credit card offers in the trash since once the trash hits the street outside your home, it becomes public property that anyone can go through if they are willing. Instead, use a crosscut shredder to destroy those statements and offers. Although crosscut shredders are more expensive than regular shredders, they provide greater peace of mind about your credit and personal information.
4.     4.            Credit reporting bureaus often sell the names of people for whom they have a credit record to banks, mortgage lenders, and credit card companies. Ask them to remove your name from their lists to reduce the number of pre-approved credit offers you receive.
5.     5.            Many companies make additional money by selling marketing lists that include the names of their policyholders or customers. However, the Direct Marketing Association maintains Mail Preference Service and Telephone Preference Service lists that are used by banks and other marketers. Contact the Direct Marketing Association and have them add your name to their list of name deletions.
6.     6.            Many years ago when credit cards were more difficult to get, people use to stuff their wallets and purses full of all their credit cards as a type of status symbol. In today’s world, doing so can cause you untold heartache and expenses if you lose your wallet or purse that has 20 credit cards in it. Do not carry identifying documents and extra credit cards unless you know you might need them. Many people rotate their credit card use each month so that they only have one credit card in their wallet that always has a credit line available on it. This tactic also keeps your credit cards active, which can be useful in raising your credit card score. Cancel credit card accounts that you have no use for anymore. Remember, though, that having an unused credit card can increase your credit score because that credit card comes with a line of credit, so don’t cancel it if you can foresee using it sometime in the future.
7.     7.            If you don’t have a copy of your driver’s license, Social Insurance card, and credit cards, make a copy now. Copy both sides so that you have the account numbers, expiration dates, and customer service numbers in case your purse or wallet is lost or stolen.
8.     8.            If you have a streetside mail box like those shown in the picture at left, especially an unlocked one and one with a red flag on it to indicate outgoing mail, don’t use it to mail payments and checks, and certainly don’t raise that red flat to help thieves identify mailboxes that might have outgoing payment checks in them. Drop payments off at the indoor drop at your post office since even outdoor mailboxes at the post office have been yanked from the ground and hauled away by thieves.
9.     9.            Find out when the mail carrier typically delivers mail to your neighborhood and gather your mail as soon as it is delivered. Identity thieves have been known to follow the mail carrier through the neighbor-hood stealing mail almost as soon as it has been delivered. If the post office offers you one of the locked boxes at a street cluster box like those in the picture at right, take advantage of it or at least get your own locked box for your property if you don’t want to walk down the street to the cluster box.
10. Do not have your driver’s license, telephone number, or Social Insurance Number printed on your checks. Your address is enough, especially since most companies will appropriate identification when cashing your check regardless of what is printed on the check itself. That’s because when people change address and have hundreds of checks left over with the old address, they rarely order new checks and throw the old ones away.
11. If you’re not already receiving your Canada Pension Plan statement each year, contact your local Revenue Canada office and request it. Read over it to check for any fraudulent activity.
12. It seems like a common and useful thing to do, but many people don’t look at the charges on their credit card statements before paying them. Check every charge and make sure that you know what the charge was for.
13. Provide your credit card number, Social Insurance Number, driver’s license, or other personal information over the phone only if you were the one who initiated the call and trust the business. Even when you do, though, ask the company what they intend to do with your information and whether or not they sell it to other companies. If they do, tell them that you want to be removed from the lists that they sell.
14. In order to get credit, one has to apply for credit, even identity thieves, so subscribe to a credit report monitoring service that will notify you whenever someone applies for credit in your name.
15. For lots of useful information about your privacy rights, removing your name from various lists, and when you are required to provide certain information, visit the Canadian Consumer Information Gateway at www.consumerinformation.ca/

It would seem that the importance of a good, thorough home inspection by a qualified inspector is obvious.  Never the less many home buyers do not adequately research the profession before hiring an inspector.  Most people simply ask the price of the inspection and availability of the inspector when calling to hire an inspector.  This is an extremely poor method in which to choose a home inspector.  When buying a new car or furniture set would you merely go to the retailer and buy the lowest priced soonest available item?  What would you most likely purchase and take home?  In all likelihood a poor quality item that you will probably regret hastily purchasing.

Hiring a skilled professional home inspector is absolutely no different.  Just like the example, a low priced, quickly available inspector may mean the same thing; poor quality.  So what should a home buyer be looking for in a home inspector? 

Licensing: Alberta and British Columbia are the only two provinces that have licensing.

Make sure the Inspector belongs to a Canadian Association for Home Inspection so you  have a way to make compliments and or complaints about the Inspector you hired.

Insurance: Does the inspector carry Errors & Omissions and or liability insurance and can they provide proof of insurance upon request.  CanNACHI  requires insurance from it’s membership while others do not. 

Training: Has the inspector had formal training from a recognized training school?   Provincial  regulation in the home inspection profession is relatively recent (Many provinces still do not have licensing or regulation!), so formal training has been mostly optional.  Many “old timers” were carpenters, electricians or builders and learned to perform home inspections “on the job”.  However, there is no single trade that qualifies someone to move into the field of home inspection without extensive training.

Experience: This is can be a misleading qualification if the right questions are not asked.  Years of experience are not as important as the number of home inspections completed.  This discrepancy would indicate that many inspectors may be working at other jobs or are semi-retired individuals.

Be sure to ask how many inspections the inspector completes a year, at least 200 or over would be a good standard.  It is also still important to ask overall years of experience and total number of inspections.

Continuing Education: Even well trained experienced inspectors must continually update their skills and knowledge.  Licensing requires a minimal amount of continuing education for inspectors to renew their license.  Look for inspectors who go beyond the necessary minimum and spend the time and money to keep their skills current.

Association Membership: Inspectors who have made the commitment of time, training, testing and money to belong to a reputable professional home inspection society are generally more committed to doing a high quality job for their clients.  But be careful, not all home inspection organizations are equal.  Some ask for little or no training, knowledge or experience to become a member, while others are very rigorous in their qualifications for membership.  A membership logo means little; it’s what’s behind the symbol that counts.  Inquire about and research this area fully, it will provide you with great insight into the inspectors abilities and dedication to performing a top notch home inspection.

The Inspection: How long does the inspection take?  As previously mentioned short inspection times mean poor quality.  A thorough inspection on an averaged sized home, (1500-2500 sq. ft.) should last 2-4 hours.  Also ask if the inspector would like you to attend the inspection.  If they say no, this should alert you that something is wrong with this particular inspection company.  A good inspector should insist that you attend the home inspection if at all possible.

The Report: This is why you hire an inspector, to provide written detailed information about the house.  The first and most important question, when and how will you receive the report?  On site, within 24 hours, a week, by email, regular mail or delivered by the inspector.  What type of report does the inspector use, what is the approximate length of the report, are there pictures included?  Be wary of short reports, 10 pages or less, and long report turn around times.

Other Certifications: Ask if the inspector has additional certifications or licenses in services that you may need in addition to the home inspection.  For instance radon testing is a very common ancillary service provided by many home inspection companies, but many inspectors are not certified or formally trained.  If you are looking to have other services done be sure to ask about the inspectors’ qualifications to conduct the tests you require.

Miscellaneous Items: Some things you should confirm when calling to hire a home inspector.  Be certain that the inspector that will be doing your home inspection possesses the qualifications stated by the person on the phone.  This is especially important when talking with multi-inspector firms.  Most importantly will the inspector be readily available for follow up questions.

Price: The last question you should ask, not the first.  Put quite simply, you get what you pay for.  Good home inspectors demand higher prices because of experience, money invested into training to improve their skills and the business for the benefit of their clients.  Remember the money you pay a good inspector is an investment.  You will very likely receive back from the seller monies well in excess of the home inspection fee. Choose your inspector wisely.

Summary: When calling to hire a home inspector ask about:

• Licensing
• Insurance
• Formal Training
• Experience
• Continuing Education
• Association Membership
• The Inspection
• The Report
• Other Certifications
• Does the inspector doing inspection have the qualification stated.
• Price

Following this simple guide should aid you in finding a well qualified, professional home inspector.  Having a good inspection will provide you with valuable information on your prospective purchase and ultimately piece of mind going forward.

  Deadly Mistake #1: Thinking you can’t afford it.
 
Today, buying the home of your dreams is easier than ever before.  Many people who thought that buying the home they wanted was simply out of their reach are now enjoying a new lifestyle in their very own new home. 
 
Buying a home is the smartest financial decision you will ever make.  In fact, most American and Canadian home owners would be financially broke at retirement if it weren’t for one saving grace – the equity in their home.  Furthermore, mortgage rates are more flexible today than ever and tax allowances favor home ownership. 
Real estate values have always risen steadily.  Of course there are peaks and valleys, but the long term the trend is a consistent increase.  This means that every month when you make a mortgage payment the amount that you owe on the home goes down and the value typically increases.  This owe less-worth more situation is called equity build-up and is the reason you can’t afford not to buy.
 
Even if you have little money for a down payment or credit problems, chances are that you can still buy that new home.  It just comes down to knowing the right strategies, and working with the right people.  See below.
  
 
Deadly Mistake #2:  Not hiring a buyer’s agent to represent you.
 
Buying property is a complex and stressful task.  In fact, it is often the biggest single investment you will make in your lifetime.  At the same time, real estate transactions have become increasingly complicated.  New technology, laws, procedures and competition from other buyers require buyer agents to perform at an ever-increasing level of professionalism.  For many homebuyers, the process turns into a terrible, stressful ordeal.  In addition, making the wrong decisions can end up costing you thousands of dollars.  It does not have to be this way!
 
Work with a buyer’s agent who has a keen understanding of the real estate business and who is on your side.  Buyer’s agents have a fiduciary duty to you.  That means they are loyal to only you and are obligated to look out for your best interests.  Buyer’s agents can help you find the best home, the best lender and the best inspector.  Best of all, in most cases, the buyer’s agent is paid out of the seller’s commission, even though he/she works for you.

Trying to buy a home without an agent at all is, well… unthinkable.
 
 
Deadly Mistake #3:  Getting a cheap inspection.
 
Buying a home is probably the most expensive purchase you will ever make.  This is no time to shop for a cheap inspection.  The cost of a home inspection is very small relative to the home being inspected.  The additional cost of hiring a certified inspector is almost insignificant.  As a homebuyer, you have recently been crunching the numbers, negotiating offers, adding up closing costs, shopping for mortgages and trying to get the best deals.  Do not stop now.  Do not let your real estate agent, a patty-cake inspector or anyone else talk you into skimping here.  
  
NACHI front-ends its membership requirements.  NACHI turns down more than 1/2 the inspectors who want to join because they can’t fulfill the membership requirements. 
 
NACHI certified inspectors perform the best inspections by far.  NACHI certified inspectors earn their fees many times over.  They do more, they deserve more, and yes they generally charge a little more.  Do yourself a favor…and pay a little more for the quality inspection you deserve.
 
To get the best home inspector in your area call  613 929 9919

Copyright 2005 National Association of Certified Home Inspectors