07/14/2026
Before you pay someone to inspect a home in Arkansas, make sure they’re legally allowed to do it.
It has come to my attention that people in our area may be performing home inspections without being legally registered to do so. Is that really a problem?
A buyer has the right to choose their own inspection representative, but that does not mean they can pay any contractor, handyman, friend, or self-proclaimed “house expert” to perform the work of a home inspector. In Arkansas, anyone performing or attempting to perform a home inspection for a fee must be registered with the state.
That does not prevent a buyer from inspecting the property themselves or walking through it with a trusted friend or family member. It also does not prevent properly qualified trade professionals from evaluating specific systems within their field. An electrician can evaluate electrical concerns, a plumber can evaluate plumbing, and an HVAC professional can evaluate heating and cooling equipment.
However, being a contractor, residential builder, handyman, or experienced tradesperson does not automatically qualify or legally authorize someone to perform a complete home inspection across all of the property’s systems.
State registration does not guarantee that someone is a great inspector. There are good inspectors and bad inspectors, just like every other profession. Registration is simply the starting point. It confirms that the person is legally authorized to perform the service and has met Arkansas’s minimum requirements, including required insurance and regulatory accountability.
Before paying anyone to perform a home inspection in Arkansas, verify their name on the official Arkansas Home Inspector Roster. Do not rely only on an InterNACHI, ASHI, or other private membership directory. Those organizations may provide education and credentials, but they do not replace state registration.
Start with registration. Then compare experience, qualifications, sample reports, services, equipment, and reputation.
Buyer choice matters, but buyer choice does not cancel Arkansas law.
Actuate Inspections
Certified Master Inspector®
Arkansas HI-2254
(870) 565-2000