Are you planning to buy or sell a house? If so, you might be looking for a home inspector. Whether you’re a buyer or seller, it’s crucial to conduct a home inspection. A home inspection is an assessment of the home performed by a certified home inspector. To help people make the right property-related decisions, a qualified and trained home inspector conduct a visual inspection of the property to determine the home’s performance. Homebuyers need an inspection report before making the purchase decision to avoid potential issues with the home.
A home inspection is a crucial step in the home buying or selling process. Therefore, it’s important to find the right professional. Only an experienced and qualified home inspector has the skills to look at every nook and cranny to gauge structure stability and identify issues like mold, asbestos, termites, leaking roofs, and more. For a homebuyer, these findings from the home inspection can make a big difference in making a knowledgeable decision about the home’s purchase price. Now, as you know the importance of hiring a home inspector, the next step is finding the right professional. So, let’s check out some useful tips for hiring the right home/property inspector.
Qualifications & Certifications
When contacting multiple home inspectors, ask all of them about their qualifications, training, and licensing. Ask to see proof of licensing if your state requires home inspectors to be licensed. It’s always safe to hire licensed professionals to avoid legal complications. The inspector you hire should have taken formal training in construction and building maintenance standards. This ensures that he/she has knowledge of local building codes and is skilled in identifying hidden issues.
Memberships
The best home inspectors have a membership of the national or state association of home inspectors. You can check the home inspection company’s website to find out this information. Most inspectors proudly mention these details on their site. If a home inspector is a member of associations like the National Association of Home Inspectors or the National Institute of Building Inspectors, then it means that they have up-to-date information about industry practices and inspection standards.
Sample Reports
To get an idea of their work quality, ask the inspectors to provide a sample of their past reports. When checking their past work, make sure the report is written in clear words with all major elements’ details. Most inspectors also attach photographs of the inspected property to highlight any problems that could present a safety hazard.
Review & References
After shortlisting a few reliable candidates, do a little more research. Check their reviews on Yelp and Facebook sites to make sure the candidate has a good reputation in the market. Many home inspectors are listed on review sites like Yelp.com, where you can read their customers’ reviews and experiences. Whether you’re a buyer or seller, make sure the inspector has a good reputation among most of his clients. You can also take the contact details of their past customers who have used his or her services. When speaking to these people, ask whether they were satisfied with the report and other services they received.