A Qualified Home Inspector?

Friday, May 29th, 2009

YES, you need a Home Inspector!
Let me start off by saying that you do need a home inspector for any purchase of real estate. Having a qualified company walk through a property you are purchasing is as important as having a legal inspection performed by an attorney of your deal. You want to know the condition of the property before you go to settlement. It is important to also remember that as part of the Agreement of Sale you make sure to chose the Home Inspection Contingency option that allows you to void the deal if a qualified home inspector finds too many issues. Finding the right home inspector is important and unfortunately most states in the US offer little or no regulations for the home inspection industry.

How do you find a qualified home inspector?
Talk to friends who have had an inspection recently. Did their inspector do a good job? You can ask the inspector for references, too, but keep in mind they probably won’t give you the names of unhappy clients. If you are working with an attorney ask who they recommend. Attorneys often see the inspection reports so they know who the good inspectors are.

Inspect the Inspector.
If statements in the appraisal or pest report cause the lender to ask for a structural inspection they will expect that inspection to be done by a licensed professional, usually a structural engineer .Before you select an inspector find out what type of licensing the lender requires if a structural inspection is necessary. Look for an inspector that is ASHI certified. Ask where was the inspector trained? Does he or she attend continuing education classes? Does the inspector belong to a professional organization? If so, what are the requirements for membership? Entry should require more than just an application fee. Does the inspector carry Errors & Omissions insurance? This type of malpractice insurance may come in handy if the inspector overlooks a major problem. If your inspector qualifies, it may save you time and money since you won’t have to hire a second person to verify structural integrity.

What does the inspection cover?
Once you find the Home Inspector ask many questions, after all they are working for you! Ask what systems are covered in the home inspection? Are there some services that require an extra fee, such as a septic inspection? A septic report is required for FHA and VA financing. Doing it at the same time as the home inspection is usually less expensive than bringing the inspector back again later. Will you be given a detailed report with photos of problem areas? It should include a checklist showing results for all systems evaluated. It should also include reports in paragraph form. Ask for a time estimate. A thorough inspection can take 3-5 hours or more.

Do not skip this step!

I am always stressing the importance of what I term the “Legal Inspection”, having all your documents reviewed by an attorney who routinely practices in real estate and just as important is a qualified home inspection, be sure to do it!

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