If you’re a first-time home buyer or an old pro, finding the best home inspector to make sure the home you recently put an offer on is in ship-shape is imperative. Not only does a home inspector tell you what needs to be repaired in a home, which could reduce the purchase price, but the home inspection itself should be filed with the home repair insurance company to ensure you get the best home warranty coverage possible. So, how can you tell which home inspector is the best? Unfortunately home inspectors aren’t always licensed, which means some individuals could provide a less than accurate home inspection than others. Not to worry, though! The best home warranty company (Landmark) will provide you with some tips to find the best home inspector for the job.

Don’t hire an inspector to complete the inspection and the home repairs

This first tip is probably the most important. Don’t ever hire the inspector with the intent to have them make any repairs they might find during the inspection. Make it very clear that you will be hiring another company once you have purchased the home, or, tell the inspector that the seller will be hiring another company to make the repairs. While this may seem like a logical choice, some inspectors may try to make a quick buck and find extra problems in the home if it means they’ll getting a larger paycheck to repair those problems. Most home inspectors will not offer repair services, but if you find one who does, consider it a red flag, and hire a different inspector.

Find a home inspector who has a membership in a professional inspection organization.

Although not all home inspectors are licensed, there are professional inspection organizations. Find a home inspector who is a member of a professional inspection group, like the American Society of Home Inspectors. ASHI requires its members have specific training and adhere to professional ethics. In order to become a member, inspectors must pass a test and upkeep education during their membership. You can search for inspectors through ASHI.

These requirements aren’t only for ASHI. There are a number of other professional inspection organizations such as: the International Conference of Building Officials, the Environmental Protection Agency, the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists or National Association of Certified Home Inspectors.

Find a home inspector with experience

You may read that suggestion with an eye-roll, but before you go onto the next tip, remember that you don’t have to have a home inspector with years of home inspection experience. Although that is important, you can get a home inspector who has just started as long as they have experience as a contractor. Many times contractors and individuals with a background in home repair will begin a home inspection business. These are people you want to hire because they know the problems a home’s systems and appliances encounter, and what the warning signs are when something is about to fail.  You can ask your home inspector what their experience is, or read reviews online. Check what other people are saying about the company to make sure you’ll be giving your business to the right person.

Get a sample report

Ask your home inspector what they’ll inspect, or get a sample report. If the sample report covers everything in the home and is detailed, you know you have a home inspector who cares about the job and makes sure everything that could be potentially problematic is noted. If the home inspector refuses to give a sample report, or the report is limited, consider finding another home inspector.

Ask to Attend the Inspection

Finally, ask if you can attend the inspection with the home inspector. This will take two to four hours, but it is a great way to find the ins and outs of the home you may be purchasing, as well as what could be a problem in the future. You’ll know what needs to be re346paired and you can ask questions about maintenance. If a home inspector refuses to let you attend the inspection, it is a red flag. It means they may not be inspecting everything as thoroughly as they should, which will end up costing you in the long run.  Why? Let’s say you purchase the home but you don’t know about the failing furnace. If your home inspection had noted that, you could have asked the seller to fix the furnace before selling or asked for the price be decreased so you could purchase a furnace yourself.

Remember, getting a great home inspector can help you save money, especially when it comes to home repair insurance!

Having a home inspection can really help when it comes to home warranty insurance. A home warranty is a lot like an appliance warranty and home repair insurance combined; it covers a home’s systems and appliances when they fail from normal wear and tear and is often included in the sale of a home. If the best home warranty company has the home inspection and sees that there was no damage or repairs needed to an appliance or system that has failed, they will cover it for a $60 service call fee. For more information on home warranty coverage, go to www.landmarkhw.com.

 More information about home inspections:

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/my-money/2014/04/27/7-questions-to-ask-when-choosing-a-home-inspector

http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/2015/03/20/8-tips-to-find-the-best-home-inspector

http://www.frontdoor.com/real-estate/finding-the-right-home-inspector

http://www.nachi.org/

http://www.homeinspector.org/