Are you searching the market for a new home? Have you found a great house and want to get it checked over by a home inspector?
Did you know, in 2020, there were 6.5 million homes sold in the US alone? Not all of these homes would have been problem-free.
If you are looking at options for homes to buy, an inspection can make that choice easier. Here are factors to consider when hiring a home inspector.
What Does a Home Inspector Do?
A home inspector is someone you can hire who goes around inspecting new homes. These inspections tend to be when a person is buying a new home.
The inspector will visit the property and check for any damages or problems in and around the home. Once they have finished, they will give the clients a full report of what they found.
This could be a vital opportunity to save yourself from buying a broken home. Home inspectors are there to protect you from finding the problems the hard way.
Add the expense of a home inspector to your budget when buying a house. It may cost you now, but it may also save you money in the future.
1. What Are Their Qualifications?
When searching through the options for inspectors, look into what qualifications they have. There are places in the world where these qualifications are not required.
These qualifications will include a standard home inspector license. This number should be readily available for any potential client to view. Feel free to learn more about what qualifications we own.
Start a conversation with a potential inspector and ask them about their experience. Most of them will happily set your mind at rest by going over their history.
2. Are They Insured?
Your safest option is to hire correctly insured home inspectors. A home inspector will be going through the entirety of a home to check it over for you.
If something were to happen to that home and they weren’t insured, there could be costs to fix the house. This could cause a problem when all parties try to figure out who is paying it.
Home inspectors will also be covered for the advice they give you. This is called Professional Indemnity insurance.
3. Are They Experts in the Field?
As mentioned before, ask the inspectors for their home inspection experience. They won’t all have the same experiences.
Some inspections will focus on pest inspections. This focus will require different qualifications.
Make sure you hire the right inspector. You don’t want to find these problems after you have finalized the payments for the house.
4. Do They Cover the Basic Inspection Points?
You will want a home inspector to check for damages to the house. Make sure that your inspector covers at least the basic level of inspection.
The basic level will cover things such as:
- Cracks and Mold: Are there any visible cracks in the walls throughout the house? Can they spot any signs of mold?
- Leaks: Leaking pipes can sometimes produce cracks and mold. Will your inspector notice any signs of leaks within the plumbing through the house?
- Structure: Will they check the house for structural integrity? This can be things such as windows, doors, or external structures.
- External: Is there are trouble with the surrounding trees and wildlife? Will they check the roof over for any faults?
5. Are You Allowed to Be Present?
A significant warning sign of a bad home inspector is when it comes to asking if you can be there for the inspection. If they hesitate and try to keep you out of the home for the entire duration, they may be trying to hide something.
That’s not to say you will be able to join for the entire inspection. In the first part of the inspection, the inspector should be left alone. By doing this, they can focus their whole attention on the assessment.
Once they have covered all the finer details, they may invite your back for the second part. This will be where they point out significant issues around the building.
6. When Will You Receive the Final Report?
The final report is where the home inspector gives you all information found in the house. The time it takes to receive this report could be significant.
Are they able to give you the report on the same day? If so, you can either go ahead with the house’s payment or withdraw your offer.
Having a report will color photos attached will also help you make this decision. Being able to see what the inspector found may help you decide if it’s fixable or not.
7. How Much Are They Going to Cost You?
When you start comparing inspection fees, you will notice a range of prices. Don’t simply go for the cheapest option.
If an inspector charges a minimal amount for their services, they may be worth that amount of money. Pay the extra amount to make sure the house gets properly surveyed?
8. Can They Give You Follow-up Support?
Does the home inspector give you the option for a follow-up after the initial inspection? If so, will they charge you for it?
Sometimes you can find an inspector who will offer this support as part of the initial package. They will understand that people may wish to double-check the findings.
A home inspector’s job is to make sure the home you are looking at is right for you. Most will be happy to give extra peace of mind with a follow-up inspection.
Does Your Chosen Inspector Pass Inspection?
Now you know what to look for when choosing a home inspector. Hopefully, this list will have helped you. Check their credentials. Choose the right inspector for the job. Make sure they are fully covered.