Buying a house is a big decision and it is often said that for most people house purchase is the biggest financial decision of their lives.
You have to make sure that the lack of technical knowledge and the excitement of getting your own home does not cloud your judgement.
So you rely on someone who has the technical knowledge and sees things objectively, The Home Inspector.
This article explains what are the qualities of a good home inspector and how to ensure that the inspector you hire is up to the task.
Qualities of a Good Home Inspector
License and Credentials
First thing that you see in a home inspector is whether or not he/she is licensed to perform a home inspection and if they have the right credentials.
The list of individuals who have a valid home inspection license can be found on the website of the licensing authority.
Knowledge & Experience
License signifies that an individual is authorized to perform a home inspection in a certain jurisdiction. Just having a license is not enough to be a good home inspector because a license is granted to everyone who meets the minimum criteria.
A good home inspector is the one who has at least a few years experience. He/she has sound knowledge of building construction, understands HVAC systems, is able to identify hazards in electrical wiring and plumbing, and is also able to detect presence of mold and pest infestation.
Thorough Process
A good inspector is the one who pays attention to details and does not rush. Industry experts suggest that the time spent on a home inspection should be a minimum of 1 hour per 1000 square feet. Inspectors spending less time are not thorough and could potentially miss significant details.
Inspection Report Delivery
Inspection report explains a lot about an inspector. A good report is thorough and detailed. A good inspection report of an average house is anywhere between 30 to 50 pages and in some cases even longer.
A good report also has a lot of pictures. It has an executive summary, a body and a conclusion. It highlights major issues in the summary so that the buyer knows which areas are of prime concern and what can be overlooked.
Timely delivery of the report is also important. A good inspector delivers a report in no more than a day or two.
You can read our detailed article on “How to read an understand a home inspection report”
Insurance
A good home inspector is insured. Insurance covers the inspectors and protects the homeowner in the event that the inspector is injured at work or any damage to the property is caused.
Personal liability insurance covers the inspector if they are sued for negligence.
Communication and Customer service
Every good professional must possess these qualities. When you contact the home inspector inspector the first thing you are going to notice is their communication and customer services skills. A good inspector must be approachable and easy to talk to.
We recommend that the home buyers should attend the inspection and ask questions as the inspectors inspect the house. That way, you learn about the property you are about to buy. An inspector who is open and has good communication skills does not mind buyers attending the home inspection.
Customer Reviews
Last but not the least are customer reviews. Let's face it, there are always going to be some unhappy customers. When hiring a home inspector you should spend time on the reviews an inspector has received. Specially if there are some negative reviews, see what those negative comments say about the inspector and how, if at all, has the inspector responded to these comments.
Questions to ask a home inspector
How much time would you be spending on an inspection?
The answer to this question will reveal how thorough the home inspector is. As a homeowner/buyer you need an inspector who spends the most time and looks for every detail
Can I attend the inspection?
A good home inspector will always say yes, when they are asked this question. Not only should you ask this question but you should also make sure that you do attend the inspection. This way you learn a lot about you home
Can I see a sample report?
A sample report tells a lot about a home inspector. Their process, attention to detail, how descriptive it is and how easy it is to understand.
The structure of the report is also important. A typical home inspection report is a minimum of 30 pages and could go as far as 70 pages or more. Not every detail mentioned in the report needs to be discussed with the seller. So a good report must have a summary and major issues must be highlighted so that the buyer can easily refer to them during negotiations.
When will I receive the report?
The inspection report must be delivered to you in a day or two. A good inspector does not delay the report any longer than that. Also, ask about the delivery method. Most inspector, nowadays, prefer a pdf report sent to the client’s email but it is better to have this confirmed.
Do you have adequate insurance?
Insurance protects in case the inspection results in any injury sustained by the inspector or any damage caused to the property. An insured inspector offers that additional peace of mind that we all need just in case things do not go as planned or if an accident happens.
Conclusion:
To sum up this discussion we are presenting Do’s and Don’ts of hiring a home inspector.
Don'ts
Hire the cheapest or fastest
Hire the inspector who does repairs
Hire a one with bad reviews
Hire the one who takes too long to prepare the report
Do’s
The one with proper credentials and license
The one with most experience
The one with good reviews
The one with latest tools and equipment
Comments