Ensuring the Safest Environment Possible for Homeowners

SEELEY LAKE – Purchasing a home in the Seeley-Swan area just got a little easier. John Homen, co-owner of Homen Hearth of Seeley Lake, recently passed his state and national home inspector certification. Homen's desire is to provide the safest environment for the homeowners and provide the best possible services so the potential home buyer has a good understanding of what they are purchasing.

Homen and his wife Rachel started their chimney cleaning service Homen Hearth in June 2013. Homen has an Associate in Applied Sciences (AAS) degree in facility maintenance and heating systems and a significant amount of training in heating and cooling systems and ventilation controls. His work with chimneys has given him an in-depth understanding of roof systems since he needs to be up on them to service chimneys.

After continuing to expand their services, Homen realized the need for inspectors. While there are inspectors that will come out of Great Falls and Missoula, "that doesn't really provide a good service to the Seeley-Swan market."

"I'm already doing exterior-grade inspection which is a large portion of what is involved in the home inspection [as well as understanding the basic dynamics inside the home]," said Homen. "Home inspections seemed like the next step in the evolution of Homen Hearth."

With his strong understanding of what is required for home inspection in the heating, cooling and water supply of the home, Homen needed the proper training in foundations, foundation equipment, foundation systems and the basics of construction.

"Most everything else I have experience in but I've never built anything from bare dirt," said Homen who has lived and maintained a home built on a concrete slab and a three story home with a basement. "Understanding what I'm looking at there and how that all works."

Homen completed 120 hours of online credits through American Home Inspector Institute. He completed his coursework and passed his final exam in February 2018.

While Montana does not currently have any licensing requirements for home inspectors, Homen took the National Home Inspector Exam and passed "with flying colors." He said only 60 percent of those that take the NHIE pass it the first time.

Homen said he will look at every aspect of the home inside and out. If there are components that are not visible due to snow or can't be accessed, he can specify unable to inspect in his report. Pools, hot tubs and spas are not inspected because Homen is not certified to inspect if the spa jets are working properly.

"The idea is you put eyes on every square inch of the home to verify that there aren't any defects making sure it is a sound structure, that it is safe and anything that needs to be addressed should be called out for the buyer so they can use it as a negotiation point with the seller," said Homen who highlighted it is only a visual inspection, not a code inspection. "If I have access to it, I'm checking it."

Homen said that if there is a chimney cap on the chimney, a home inspector is not required to inspect the flue or the chimney system. Instead they note that a service provider should be contacted. If the proper inspection is not done prior to the sale of the home, the insurance agency may deny the new home owner coverage because an inspection is required on the sale and transfer of any property.

"Being that I'm that local service professional we are going to throw that in as part of what we do with inspections as an additional protection for potential home buyers," said Homen.

Home inspections, including a full report with photo documentation, will be added to the list of services that are insured and offered by Homen Hearth. They also offer chimney sweeping, stove box cleaning, chimney installs, some vacation property cleaning and sheet metal roof screw replacement and tightening. He is hoping to add radon and septic testing this summer.

Homen looks forward to primarily serving Seeley Lake, north to the Swan Valley and south to Lincoln and Potomac since there is currently no home inspectors in that area. He will travel beyond that if needed.

"At the end of the day, the home inspections will eclipse everything that Homen Hearth provides simply because of the lack of services in the region," said Homen. "Our clients can rest assured that the home itself will provide for their needs."

For more information or to schedule an inspection call 406-499-2450 or email HHLLC2013@gmail.com. Homen Hearth can also be found on Facebook.