Hiring A Home Inspector
You've gone to countless
open houses, searched online for months, and have finally found the house of
your dreams, but before signing your name on the dotted line there are a few
key steps you should not overlook. When
purchasing a home, hiring the right home inspector can be the most important
decision you make. Knowing the condition
of the house you are going to purchase cannot be left to appearances or
promises, and some undetected problems can be even more costly than the price
of the house itself. Making sure you
have the services of a home inspector who knows what he or she is doing can
prevent what should be a great investment from becoming a financial
disaster. So what steps can you take to
be sure your home inspector is qualified?
Here are a few things to consider.
How Long Have They Been In
The Business, And What Is Their Professional Background?
The housing market has
steadily increased over the last several decades, and the home inspection
business is booming. With new home
inspectors becoming certified each day from a variety of programs, hiring the
services of an experienced inspector can really make a difference. Though experience is always a good indicator
of qualifications, also consider hiring an inspector who has a background in
the housing industry, whether as a real estate agent or home builder.
What Are Their
Qualifications?
With the incredible number
of courses and schools offering certification in home inspection, knowing where
your home inspector got their training and whether or not the course is
actually recognized by the certifying body in your area is definitely worth the
extra time to find out. Always ask to
see proof of their certification, and make the necessary calls to the institution
if there is any doubt.
Do They Have References?
This may seem an obvious
question to ask any professional, but many people skip this step, and even
fewer actually follow up on the references that they ask for. Always call the references that your home
inspector provides, and be sure they can give you at least three recent
referrals.
How Much Do They Charge?
While the costs involved
in purchasing a new home can add up quickly, the temptation to try to save when
hiring a home inspector should be resisted.
Call several home inspectors for quotes, and if the one you have
selected is considerably cheaper than the others, ask yourself why. Most certified and qualified home inspectors
know what the competition is charging and will usually charge a similar rate.
While all this work may seem
like a lot of effort for what may turn out to be just red tape, if there is a
serious problem with the property you are hoping to buy and it goes undetected,
what should be your greatest investment may turn out to be your greatest
liability.
