How to Get a Home Inspection

When you get a home inspection, there are a lot of things to take care of. Getting a home inspection is a very serious thing, which can determine whether your home has $100 or several thousands of dollars worth of damage. Take your home inspection seriously, and be prepared to put some of your own work into the inspection process - after all, the home that you buy is your responsibility after all is said and done.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Choose a reputable home inspection company. Since you likely need a home inspection because you're buying a home, it may be worth asking your real estate agent, lawyer, or mortgage broker about a reputable home inspector or home inspection company.

2. Once you've gathered names of home inspection companies, do some research. Compare prices, services and other data. Some home inspection companies may offer services that others do not. So, do not be scared off by a high price, because other companies may have lower prices, but offer less home inspection services.

3. Find out what kind of report you will get from your home inspection company. A good company will offer documentation after a home inspection. A great company will offer in-depth details like maps of termite damage and write-ups of necessary upgrades and changes.

4. Speak to a representative at the home inspection company of your choosing. Make sure the staff at the company is friendly, because you may need to call with follow up questions. You will want to be comfortable asking any necessary follow up questions.

5. Find out if the home inspection company makes any guarantees about their work. For example, if you find that the company did not do a complete check, you'll want to make sure that you can go back to them and discuss it, and you'll be able to get the company to come back for further inspection or get a refund, since you did not get the service that you were promised.

6. Research the procedures and inspections that your home inspector will be doing. This way, you can make sure that everything is done completely and correctly. Remember: you are paying for this home inspection, so you deserve to have everything done correctly.

7. The day before your home inspection, make a list of questions that you want to ask. You are allowed to ask questions, so go ahead and ask them. Getting a correct answer can let you know if you'll be spending $100 or $1,000 on repairing something in a home.

8. Be present on the day of your inspection. Watch as your home inspector checks your home. Ask for explanations about different things that your home inspector finds. Make sure the inspector checks everything that you want him or her to check. Make sure to get a complete inspection.

9. Take notes throughout the inspection. This way, when you get your complete inspection report, you'll be able to match up your notes to the inspector's notes, and make sure that everything was covered completely.

10. If you are getting radon testing done, or any other kind of testing that needs more than a few hours to complete, make sure that your home inspector will be able to get back into the home at a later date to remove materials that were left there. Ask the home inspection company about this, and schedule a pick-up time and date with your real estate agent or a current home owner.

11. Get a receipt at the end of your home inspection. If you have any problems, you will want to prove that you paid for your home inspection.

[georgelarson]

on 1/31/2009 All good points for a home inspection. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.