Inspecting a home for defects is not something you do every day. Inspecting a potential new home can let you know about problems so you’ll be an informed buyer. From problems with the foundation to a leaky roof, defects can be very expensive to repair. It is always best to know before you buy what you’re up against rather than be surprised after you complete the purchase. So, it’s in your best interest to select an inspector that is skilled and qualified to detect all the major and minor problems you’re likely to encounter once the house is yours.

Whether you are selling your home or buying a home, you will want a home inspection. Sellers have an obligation to make a full disclosure of all the material defects in the property. Leaving out a major problem can result in legal problems. Buyers need to have an independent inspection done to make sure they know what potential defects there are so they can negotiate a better price or have the owner fix the defects before the sale is consummated.

First, make sure they are full time inspectors. Then ask how many homes they have inspected in the previous year. Depending on the region and the real estate market, most full time home inspectors perform a hundred or more inspections annually. And, with so many inspections, ask for a list of previous clients you can call to see how happy they were with this inspector.

Ask about any additional certifications they may have. Often a professional home inspector will have worked in related fields and will be certified as a plumber, electrician, general contractor, mason, or have performed other related work such as a property claims adjuster. The more experience they have in related fields the better your inspection will be.

Ask if they have errors and omissions insurance to pay claims against their company in case an inspector overlooks an important defect. This will give you peace of mind in case a mistake was made that leads to a court case that could cost you a lot of money.

And, make sure you will receive a detailed narrative report, not just a simple checklist. A narrative report provides clear explanations of defects found and the potential consequences of these defects. Ask for a sample report the inspector has done recently to verify that it is clear and easy to understand.

Tags: Choice, Home Inspection, Home Inspector

This entry was posted on May 15, 2010 at 4:25 am and is filed under Inspection. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.