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You shouldn’t buy (or sell) a home without getting a quality home inspection.
But how can you find and hire a reliable home inspector that actually pays attention to the detailed? We’ve put together this guide to help walk you through the process.
So let’s get started!
Finding a reliable home inspector takes a bit more work than a Google search. If you pick the first result you find, you might end up with an inspector who doesn’t really pay attention and misses important details.
Here’s how to find a home inspector that’ll do a good job.
Start by asking your friends and family for recommendations.
If they’ve recently bought or sold a home, they probably hired a home inspector in the process. Ask them what they thought of the inspector and if they would hire them again.
You know you can trust what your friends and family say about an inspector.
If you don’t know anyone who’s worked with a home inspector recently, turn to your real estate agent. They may be able to recommend quality home inspectors in the area.
But be careful with this option.
The inspector your real estate agent recommends may want to make the home seem like it’s in good condition even if it isn’t. If your agent only refers one inspector, you may want to do your own search.
Make sure you check the reviews for any inspector you’re thinking of hiring. Start with sites like Yelp and Angie’s List, but you can also find reviews on their Google My Business page.
What do the past clients think of the inspector’s performance? How many stars does the inspector have? Are there a lot of negative comments?
If the reviews are more negative than positive, you should take your business somewhere else.
It’s also a good idea to ask the inspector for references.
They should be willing to give these to you. If they don’t have any references or if they aren’t willing to give them to you, that’s a major red flag. It probably means their past clients don’t have anything good to say.
If the inspector does give you references, get in touch with a few of them. They’ll be able to give you a detailed review of the inspector.
Check to see if the inspector is licensed. At the very least, make sure they’re part of a professional organization, such as the American Society of Home Inspectors.
If they aren’t, you may not want to trust them with your home.
Call the inspector on the phone or sit down with them in their office to ask them plenty of questions. Don’t be shy. If you don’t spend time asking these questions, you might end up with an inspector who isn’t qualified to inspect your home.
Start with these five questions.
You’ll want to hire someone who’s been in the business for several years. This will ensure they have the experience needed to catch small details in the home.
Before you hire anyone, you have to make sure you can afford them. However, that doesn’t mean you should choose the inspector at the lowest price. Remember, you get what you paid for.
The inspector should be able to give you a complete list of things they check during their inspection, and the list should look something like this:
If they give you a longer list than this, you have nothing to worry about. If they give you a shorter list, you should proceed with caution.
Most inspections will take about two hours. If your inspector gives you a much shorter timeframe, they may not do a thorough job.
The inspector should be able to give you a sample report. From this report, you can get an idea of what they check during an inspection and how detailed they are.
If you use these tips to find a reliable inspector, they should pay attention during their inspection. However, there are a few things you can do to ensure they’re doing a quality job.
You don’t have to be around for the inspection, but it’s a good idea you make sure you’re at the house. This way, you can keep an eye on the inspector as they’re going through their checklist.
Don’t be embarrassed to have your own checklist. It’s up to you to make sure the inspector is doing their job, so follow them as they go through the home. If you have any questions about what they’re checking (or what they’re missing), don’t be afraid to ask.
They should be willing to explain everything they’re doing.
Just make sure you don’t get in their way, and don’t follow them into areas like crawlspaces or unfinished attics. You might not have the right protection or know-how to stay safe in these areas.
If you stick to this guide, you’ll be able to hire a reliable home inspector that actually pays attention to the little details.
Not sure where to start your search?
We provide quality home inspection services. Make sure you click here to get in touch with us today!