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How to
Hire a Home Inspector
How do
you know if the home you are considering purchasing is
in good condition? Do you rely on your own walk-through
inspection? Do you rely on your real estate agent? Do
you rely on the home seller's disclosure? Do you bring
in a friend or family to look the home over, or do you
hire a professional home inspector?
Not
many years ago very few home buyers conducted a home
inspection using the services of a professional home
inspector. In recent years, using a home inspector has
become a standard part of the home buying process and
has been incorporated into most real estate agent's
purchase and sales agreements.
Do you
need a home inspection? Buying a home is the largest
financial investment most people make. A home inspection
can provide you with peace-of-mind that the home you are
purchasing is in good condition. A home inspection will
reveal a list of repairs the home may require prior to
purchasing the home, so you know exactly what you are
committing yourself to when you purchase the home. Most
real estate agent's purchase and sales agreements allow
you to negotiate repairs of defective conditions that
the home inspector found during the inspection process
with the seller. The seller must complete the agreed
upon repairs prior to closing. We highly recommend that
you conduct a home inspection using the services of a
"qualified" professional home inspector. A "qualified"
home inspector is trained to search and uncover home
deficiencies and potential problems that exist in the
home.
What is
a home inspection? A home inspection is an objective
visual examination of the physical structure of a home
from the foundation to the roof. A home inspection
usually covers the following:
-
heating system
-
air conditioning system
-
interior plumbing
-
electrical systems
-
the roof
-
the attic
-
visible insulation
-
walls
-
ceilings
-
floors
-
windows
-
doors
-
the foundation
-
the basement or crawl space
-
the visible structure
Before
hiring a home inspector, be sure to review the scope of
the home inspector's inspection.
How
much will a home inspection cost? Fees for a home
inspection vary depending on the size of the home, the
scope of the inspection and the time the home inspector
takes to conduct the home inspection. In 2001 the
average home inspection cost was $300.
How do
you find a qualified home inspector? This may seem like
a relatively simple task, however, in most states there
is no mandated training or certification to become a
home inspector. Becoming a home inspector can be as
simple as handing out business cards.
There are several ways to find a "qualified" home
inspector. If you are using the services of a real
estate professional, they should be able to provide you
with several "qualified" home inspectors. You can also
ask friends, family and associates who have recently
purchased a home and ask about the home inspector they
used. You can also go to
http://www.ashi.com or
http://www.nahi.org. Both
national home inspector organizations provide a code of
ethics and standards that must be met in order for a
home inspector to use their designations. Most states
also have a state-wide home inspector's organization.
Virtual Real Estate Store can also provide you with a
free list of "qualified" home inspectors in your area.
When
considering a home inspector, ask for references from
their most recent customers who have used their
services. Also, get references from people who have been
in their home for a while. You should also ask the home
inspector about their background, the number of home
inspections they have done over the past year, and any
memberships they have in home inspection organizations.
Finally, make sure the home inspector has liability
insurance and insurance for errors and omissions.
If you
have special home inspection requirements such as EIFS
synthetic stucco, lead paint, or asbestos, be sure the
home inspector has special training in those areas. The
home inspector should also be able to identify
polybutylene pipe, defective siding, the manufacturer of
the siding, and information regarding the various class
action law suits that effect home building materials. |
