Getting a Home Inspection
Purchasing a home is one of the biggest investments you will make in your lifetime, and it can also be one of the most stressful. By having a home inspection it can help to ensure that the quality of your potential home is in good condition and help to eliminate surprises by making you aware to any problems.
So how do you go about selecting a home inspector? One good way to start is one of the two nationally recognized professional associations for home inspectors; the American Society of Home Inspectors or The National Association of Home Inspectors. In order to be listed with either of these organizations one has to go through a certification process. Both of these have a search engine to help you find “state certified home inspectors.” Once you have a few names it doesn’t hurt to check with the Better Business Bureau. Make a list of inspectors that have been recommended. Avoiding anyone who has a negative report can help you avoid any potential problems with your inspection.
A few things questions to ask when talking to your potential home inspector:
• What is the inspector's experience? How many years have they been in the business and how many inspections do they do a year?
• Exclusively inspections? Beware of contractors who do house inspections "on the side"--they may be looking for work and this isn’t necessarily what you want.
• What type of report? Will it be written or oral or both? Will the report contain suggestions for remedying deficiencies? Preference should always be to get it in writing. When will the report be ready?
• How long will it take? Depending on the size of the house an inspection should take between 2 and 4 hours.
• What will be included in the inspection?
• What certifications do they have? Are they ASHI or NAHI certified?