Saturday, March 6, 2010

Hiring A Home Inspector

Should You Trust Your Real-Estate Recommended Home Inspector

Are you buying a new home? If you are like most people, this is probably the largest investment you will ever make. Most likely, one of the purchase conditions will be that you have a home inspection performed, usually within a few days, and are satisfied with the results. An analysis of the property, conducted by a specially trained and completely objective home inspector, will often identify non-functioning systems, damaged building components, safety issues and poor-quality installations. But how do you go about finding a good, objective home inspector?

Finding A Good Home Inspector
Most people don’t have the foggiest idea about where to start looking and simply ask their real estate agent to recommend someone. Though this is certainly easiest method, it may not provide the best inspector for you. Many home buyers look in the phone book for an inspector. Or do a search on the Internet. Or ask their friends and family for the name of an inspector they have used in the past. Which approach is best?

Chances are you will not get to meet the person you hire before he or she shows up to the inspection. Before this, your first contact will be on the phone. Here is your chance to ask questions and see if he or she is a good fit for you. For most people, the first questions usually centers around price. How much do you charge for a home inspection? Let me say, if you want a thorough inspection done on the property expect to pay at least $250.00, and maybe up to $600.00 or more, depending on where you live. If you pay anything less than this, plan to be disappointed. You probably didn’t buy the least expensive house available, so why would you consider the cheapest inspection?

Many inspectors offer what they call a “walk-through” inspection. Though inexpensive, the inspector is not going to go on the roof, or in the attic or crawlspace with this type of inspection. Unfortunately, these are the very places where major (read expensive) problems are likely to occur. The inspection may be cheap, but you’re probably not going to find out anything about the house you don’t already know.

Continuing Education Is Key
Experience in building science goes a long way, but training through the local, community colleges in an accredited home inspection program is your first assurance that the inspector you are hiring is familiar with all aspects of a home. Second, make sure the inspector is a member in good standing with either ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors), iNACHI (International Association of Certified Home Inspectors), and OAHI (Ontario Association of Home Inspectors) in Ontario. All these associations require a high level of training and continuing education to maintain their membership. Third, make your you can attend the inspection and ask questions. This is really the best way for you to learn all about the home’s systems and maintenance requirements. And fourth, find your own home inspector!

The “Deal-Breaker”
When you sign an Agreement To Purchase, one of the conditions usually includes having a home inspection performed to your satisfaction to ensure you are happy with the home’s condition. Your real estate agent will want you to do a home inspection for your own protection, but mostly because it reduces their liability and satisfies their requirement for full disclosure. If you think about it for a minute, at this point, the real estate agent does not want to lose the sale and will not recommend any inspector that could jeopardize his or her commission.

In real-estate circles there are inspectors who are known as “deal-breakers”. These are inspectors that are known to be very thorough and objective when examining a home. These inspectors don’t go easy on a home. They are working for you, and only you, not the real-estate agent or the seller. This is the inspector you want to get. Unfortunately, you will never get a referral from a real estate agent for a “deal-breaker” because if this inspector finds too many problems with the home, the sale may not go through, or the agent may have to re-negotiate the deal.

Find Your Own Home Inspector
Your best bet for finding a good home inspector that will work for you, is to ask your friends and family who they have used and recommend. Ask them if the inspector uncovered any hidden problems or saved them money. You don’t want an inspector that is recommended simply because he was easy going or cheap.

Do a search on the internet for something like “home inspector <TOWN WHERE YOUR LIVE>”. I suggest you include the province or state as well, or else you end up with inspectors from other countries. Look at all you find and call a few. The quality of the website more than likely speaks to the quality of the home inspector.

Look in the phone book. Here you will find inspectors that have been around for awhile or are part of a franchise. Many of the best inspectors don’t advertise in the phone book as all their work comes from word-of-mouth. Again, ask people you know.

The bottom line is that you should find your own home inspector. If your real estate agent discourages you from using your own inspector, or insists you use one of their “recommended” inspectors, then that agent is not looking out for your best interests. He’s looking out for his commission. Remember, this will be your home. Protect your investment. Do your research and find your own home inspector.

Seacliff Inspections
Windsor Home Inspector