How to Hire a Home Inspector
Purchasing a home, for most people, will be the single largest monetary expenditure of their lives. The home inspector you hire to do the inspection on your future home is an extremely important choice that could affect you negatively or positively for years to come. Choosing your home inspector wisely will help give you the information you need to confidently move forward into the world of homeownership.
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Instructions
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Get a referral. Once you have written an offer which has been accepted by the Seller and you or your agent has included a "Home Inspection Contingency," then it's time to hire a home inspector. If you are working with a buyer's agent, most agents have a relationship with several home inspectors. Ask your agent for a list of at least three home inspectors which he/she recommends. If you are not working with an agent, ask friends/family for a referral. If you are unable to obtain a referral from anyone and you are left to your own devices, use the Internet to get started on your search.
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Stay Local. You should look for a local inspector, someone who is familar with the type of housing and construction built in the area where the home is located. For instance, You would not want to hire an inspector who is headquarted in New Jersey to do an inspection in Maryland. Construction codes and laws vary widely from state to state and region to region, so hiring a local inspector is critical.
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Ask Questions. Ask if the company is licensed, bonded and insured. This is an especially important question to ask so that if something "gets missed" in the home inspection and later turns out to be an issue, the home inspection company will have some liability in the matter. Ask if the company is affiliated with A.S.H.I. (American Society of Home Inspectors). Even if your home inspection company is not located in an area which regulates the home inspection industry, A.S.H.I. sets their own standards of practice and guidelines which are more stringent than local guidelines. Inspectors who are affiliated with this organization must go through A.S.H.I. mandated training and then pass a test to prove they have learned the material.
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Verify Credentials. Home inspector regulations vary considerably from State to State and in some areas are completely unregulated. Your home inspector may have just decided to open up shop yesterday with no qualifications or background whatsoever, so it is especially important to review your home inspector's credentials and if he/she is employed by a company, the company's credentials as well.
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Get it in writing. Most inspection companies will have you sign a contract at the time of the home inspection which sets forth the terms and conditions of the inspection. Ask each prospective company ahead of time for a copy of this contract so that you can do an "apples to apples" comparison and have time to review all aspects of this agreement. In addition to the contract, make sure your home inspection company provides a "home inspection report" for you to take with you to keep for your records and also as a basis to negotiate your home inspection. The type of inspection reports vary widely, so you can also ask to review a sample inspection report ahead of time as well. Some inspectors even take pictures of items which are in need of repair to further document his/her findings during the home inspection.
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Be cautious of bundled services. Many home inspection companies offer additional inspection services for additional fees. While this is very convenient for all parties to have "a one stop shop," this is not always the best approach to getting a good inspection. While your home inspector might be great at inspecting homes, he might not be so good at doing a termite inspection, lead based paint inspection or mold test. Make sure that you review the credentials for all of the individual inspections to be performed.
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Tips & Warnings
Do your homework, make sure you understand what is covered in the home inspection. Be present during the home inspection. Contact your local Better Business Bureau and check for complaints.
Don't base your decision soley on price.
Don't use any company or individual who is not licensed (if applicable) bonded and insured
