5.34 million homes were sold in the US during 2019. Are you in the market for your dream home?
Before you finalize your purchase, it’s wise to hire a home inspector.
A home inspector sees past the open concept design and big windows and looks for structural issues as well as underlying problems.
Read on to learn the most important factors to consider before you hiring home inspectors.
Table of Contents
Experience
Home inspection experience is one of the most crucial factors to consider when hiring an inspector.
Some inspectors do a handful of inspections a year while others do hundreds. Of course, you want to choose an experienced professional who has many previous inspections.
Before hiring home inspectors, go ahead and ask them how many home inspections their company did the previous year. At least 300 a year is a safe benchmark.
You also want to know how long the individual inspector has been in business. The longer they have been doing inspections, the more knowledge they likely have.
Having an extensive knowledge base means the home inspector can quickly identify potential issues.
Professional Certification and Accreditation
The laws regarding licensing for home inspectors vary from state to state.
Don’t assume that everyone who is working as a home inspector has the same training and certifications.
Always ask about certifications, accreditation, and if they are part of professional associations.
Associations require their members to participate in continuous learning and take re-certification tests. Hiring an inspector accredited by a professional association is a good idea.
Type of Reports Used
Paying for home inspection service is really only worthwhile if you also get a detailed report of the findings. Also, the report has to be easy for you to understand.
It’s a good idea to ask your home inspector for a sample of the report. Make sure the report outlines all the parts of the house, what condition they have, and recommendations.
It’s also common for home inspectors to include a copy of their checklist of the things that they have inspected.
Insurance
Whenever anyone is on your premise doing work, you want to ensure they have insurance. The last thing you want is to be on the hook if someone is injured on your property.
Also, ask about errors and omissions insurance. This coverage protects a buyer from liability if the inspection turns out to be faulty.
For example, if your home inspector says there are no issues but later you find a longstanding problem. In this case, you can make a claim and have some of the costs to repair the damages refunded.
Hiring an inspector who carries this type of insurance gives home buyers peace of mind.
Written Contract
You should only ever pay for a service if you get a written contract beforehand.
Reputable home inspectors will offer a contract that outlines exactly what the inspection will entail. This protects both you and the inspector.
Be sure to read this document carefully. Check to see if there are areas that the inspector will not look at. There typically also is a section that explains liability if something goes wrong.
Hiring Home Inspectors Doesn’t Have to Be Stressful
Thanks for reading. We hope these 5 tips help make hiring home inspectors a simpler process for you.
Next, check out our other blog posts for more home improvement, DIY, and home content.
