A home inspector plays a huge role in the home buying process. The kind of home inspector you involve in your home buying process will determine how satisfied you’ll be with your future home.
Among other things, your home inspector will tell you everything you need to know about the home you’re about to buy. Their ability to identify potential problems goes a long way in helping you make an informed decision, one that you’ll be satisfied with, in the long term.
Knowing how to choose a home inspector, therefore, is very important especially if you’re a first-time homebuyer.
By doing a quick search for a home inspector in your place, you’ll find many options. However, as with any profession, all inspectors are not the same. In this post, you’ll find tips that will help you choose the right home inspector, one who can provide all the required information about the house you are interested in. Read on and learn more.
1. Ask for Reference from You Real Estate Agent
Your realtor is among the best resources for selecting a home inspector. How well do you know your real estate agent? Do you trust them? Do they have your best interest at heart or they are more interested in your money?
Your answers to these questions will determine whether you can confidently rely on your realtor’s advice on who to pick as your home inspector.
If your realtor has been in business long enough, the chances are they have come across numerous home inspectors. Your realtor can, therefore, tell if a home inspector can do a good job or not.
A reputable real estate agent and who has the best interest of their clients at heart will have a list of home inspectors that can do a thorough job for their clients.
If you don’t trust your home inspector, it is advisable to find your home inspector. Like in any other profession, there are bad and good agents in the real estate industry. Some realtors will steer their clients to less observant home inspectors. Such inspectors will not help you find real problems in your home.
You not only need a thorough home inspector but one that will find time to explain how severe an issue is.
2. Ask for a Sample Inspection Report
Since home inspection reports come in various formats, it is important to ask for a sample report from a company you’re planning to work with. Some companies will provide walls of text while other colorful reports with photographs.
A seller or buyer can understand issues with the house better if they are communicated using pictures. We would, therefore, recommend you choose a home inspector who offers color photography of the problems they find.
3. Consider a Company that is Bonded and Insured
Whether you choose a single inspector or a big company, you want to ensure that you’re working with an inspector who is bonded and insured.
Asking about insurance is among the critical questions you should ask when interviewing a home inspector.
A home inspector can work without insurance depending on your place. However, uninsured home inspectors may hold the homeowner liable if they’re injured during the inspection.
Wandering through crawl spaces and basements comes with certain risks, which is why home inspectors need to carry insurance.
4. Inquire the Details of the Inspection
A good inspection should look at every aspect of your home, including:
- The plumbing and electrical system
- The roof and attic
- The structural condition
- The basement and foundation
- The air conditioning and heating systems
- Environmental issues, including radon, mold, lead paint, and asbestos
- Pests like bugs and wildlife
- Appliances
On average most home inspections will take about two to three hours. The inspection can take longer if you’re buying a larger or an older home.
5. Ask Whether You Can Accompany Them During Inspection
If possible, it is important to accompany the home inspector during the home inspection. This way, they can explain to you the various things they’re looking for.
Although the main function of the home inspector is to identify major structural and mechanical problems, they can also be a great resource for learning how to run a home properly.
6. Inquire Whether They Are Full-Time Inspectors
Finding out if the inspector does only inspections is a crucial tip to knowing if the inspector is right for you.
Home inspectors that deal with plumbing, roofing, renovation may be compromised at times. We would, therefore, advise you to select a home inspection company that deals only with inspections.
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