Why Choose Us
Experience the difference. The difference is experience.
When it comes to hiring a home inspector, experience is everything. An inspector's professional qualifications can attest to that experience.
The home inspection profession is a relatively new one and as such is not yet regulated in many states. Where licensing or certification is not a requirement, such as in California, anyone can claim to be a home inspector, and there are no laws to prevent them from doing so. It is therefore important that the home buyer exercise due caution when selecting a home inspector.
In California, the only practical standards for home inspectors are those enacted by professional inspection associations such as the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), the nation's leading non-profit professional association for independent home inspectors, and the California Real Estate Inspection Association (CREIA).
Membership in these associations requires initial testing, adherence to a professional standards of practice and code of ethics, and ongoing educational programs. When you search for a home inspector, be certain that the individual actually performing the inspection holds membership in both of these CA State recognized guilds to receive the level of experience and knowledge that is needed for such an important investment.
Martin Hewitt, ACI
Certified ASHI Member No. 202935
Martin Hewitt, Central Coast Home Inspection's sole proprietor and inspector, is a certified member (ACI) of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). This designation is reserved only for those members who have met the highest educational, experience and ethical requirements set forth by the ASHI Certification Committee (ACC) and accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). This certification is the only program awarded in this manner for the home inspection profession. Martin has been a certified ASHI member since 1998.
Martin Hewitt, MCI
Master CREIA Inspector No. 39
Martin is also a Master CREIA Inspector (MCI) member of the California Real Estate Inspection Association (CREIA). A Master CREIA Inspector (MCI) is the highest and most difficult classification that can be obtained through the California Real Estate Inspection Association (CREIA). This designation is only given to those inspectors that have been a member in good standing for 2 years, obtained over 250 hours of additional training/education, performed over 1000 inspections and have successfully passed the 4-part Residential Combination Inspector, California Residential Combination Inspector OR Combination Dwelling Inspector exam(s), taken through the International Code Council Examination (ICC). Master CREIA Inspectors (MCI) must also uphold (30) Continuing Education Credits for each year that they are with CREIA.
Martin is a past President of the San Luis Obispo CREIA chapter, and recently served two years as a CREIA Regional Director. He has also served on the CREIA Board of Directors for multiple terms. Martin became a member of CREIA in 1995.
CREIA vets all of its members on an annual basis to ensure that they do not have a criminal background. This allows agents, buyers, and sellers to feel confident and secure knowing that the individual that's been hired to enter the home can be trusted. Why settle for less?
