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/
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