This post is in response to the Nov. 16 Daily Herald article, "Getting a safe, sound home -- Hiring a certified home inspector a must, experts say."

In my opinion there were many areas of this article which need to be addressed, but I would need most of the front page with graphics and then it would have to be continued onto page 4.

Does anyone at the paper know exactly what a certified home inspector is? Is it someone who takes an online test that a 12-year-old can pass and submits the appropriate fees to an association or organization such as the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors to become "certified"?

It is illegal for a "certified" home inspector to inspect more than two components of a residential property without being licensed by the state of Illinois.

For that, you must be an "Illinois Licensed Home Inspector."

See www.idfpr.com/dpr/-re/Homelnspect.asp for the exact information on the act .

Being a "certified" home inspector does not mean squat in Illinois or in most other states.

Rick Mattern

Illinois Home Inspectors License #450.0000129

Carpentersville