Home inspections began as a consumer service in the 1970's in direct response to the growing demands by home buyers. It soon became apparent that selecting a home inspector was becoming as important as finding the right home. To meet this need, the Canadian Association of Home Inspectors (CAHI) was formed in 1982, followed by the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors (OAHI) in 1987. The OAHI operated as a chapter of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), until 1994 when the OAHI became a self-regulating professional body with the passage of the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors Act.