9 Important Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Home Inspector 

 

When choosing a home inspector, the least important factor should be the cost of the inspection. Many times, home buyers have paid for the lowest cost inspection, only to find that in the long run, it cost them hundreds of dollars more, because of an inadequate inspector. The following is a simple guideline to help you with making an informed decision in choosing an inspector. Ask these questions before choosing an inspector.

 

  1. Are you insured with general liability insurance that will cover damages done during the home inspection, or does your contract place responsibility on the client (buyer)?

If the inspection firm puts the responsibility on the client, chances are they do not have the appropriate coverage to protect you from liability if they damage or destroy the home.

 

  1. Do you have errors and omissions insurance?

 

     The inspector should be covered in the event that he misses visible defects that are of    

     major expense to repair. This insurance will not apply to hidden defects.

 

  1. Are you licensed and certified through a national certification board?

 

Any practicing inspector should be certified through either the state or a national certification board. This certification means the inspector meets minimum standards and will inspect to a defined standard of practice. The certification boards are: National association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI), American Association of Home Inspectors (ASHI), International Association of Home Inspectors (ISHI), National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI), and National Association of Building Inspectors (NABI).

 

  1. How many inspections have you performed?

 

If the inspector has not performed at least 250 inspections, he is probably not experienced enough to provide a good peace of mind type inspection. Inexperience is the leading source of complaint about home inspectors.

 

  1. What type of report do you give? Narrative or checklist?

 

A good inspection firm will provide a narrative report written in terms that are easy to understand. The report should be type-written or computer generated. Checklist reports are often uninformative and lack explanations. Hand written/carbon copy reports indicate the inspector is either not experienced, properly trained, or is not a true professional at the inspection business. These types of inspectors are usually half the price of the experienced professional.

 

  1. What all does your inspection cover?

 

The inspection should cover all aspects of the home. The areas covered should be: Foundation, Structure, Attic, Crawlspace, Insulation, Appliances, Exterior, Roof, Doors, Windows, Heating/Cooling, Plumbing, and Electrical. The inspector should be properly trained to inspect each of these areas.

 

 

 

 

  1. How long is your typical inspection?

 

The average time of inspection on a typical 10 year old, 1500 Square Foot home should be around 3.5 man hours. If the inspector is there less than an hour, get another inspection

 

  1. Is this your sole source of employment?

 

If the inspector is not doing inspections full time, he is likely not going to put forth the effort to do continuing education, to maintain proficiency levels.

 

  1. Do you back your inspection with a warranty and a guarantee?

 

Any good inspection company will back the inspection with both.

 

Be sure to use good real estate professionals for all of your transactions, and enjoy your new home!