If you’re looking for a new home, don’t wait on hiring an experienced home inspector until you have accepted the offer. You’ll need some time to evaluate your options or even interview your potential candidates so you can be sure of your hire. After all, buying a new property isn’t just a small sum of money, home inspections are the one way of getting an accurate assessment of a home’s true value or condition. Here are some of the best tips for you to hire a home inspector.
Favor Credentials, but Know Their Limits
Knowing that you have hire someone who’s certified professionally can provide you with added assurance that you haven’t wasted your precious time and money. To gain certification from ASHI, the individual has to pass a National Home Inspector Examination and document minimally 250 paid home inspections, among a whole host of stringent requirements.
While certification is important, it doesn’t always ensure the inspection will be a great one as it heavily hinges on whether the inspector himself is going to be conscientious or diligent. Many times, inspectors choose to simply rush through the job, resulting in an accurate inspection.
Identify Qualified and Trusted Candidates
Find reputable inspectors by asking around your friends or family if they would recommend theirs, especially those that have only just in recent make a home purchase. Also, you can search for referrals through the internet on various local online communities like Patch or NextDoor. Other sites like Yelp, HomeAdvisor and Angie’s List can often be helpful too.
Once you have filtered a few of your favored candidates, you can make a quick online search to see if they have any complaints made against them. Try with a web search using the company’s name as well as terms including “reviews” or “complaints”.
Beware the Real Estate Agent’s Referral
Sometimes, your real estate agent may offer a few referrals for home inspectors. Whilst they could mean well, it could also present conflicting interests since an inspector referred by them will most likely be obligated to be less strict on the home inspection. So, unless you trust your agent completely, you should almost always find your own home inspector.
Ask What You Get for the Price
Typically, inspectors without a specialized credential will charge between the range of $300 and $1,000. The price depends on their experience, the scope of the inspection and the home’s size and location.
Some inspectors may offer complimentary services that aren’t covered by a basic inspection, but others can also charge additional fees for services like using a drone or using infrared cameras. Before you choose the inspector, you need to ask for the details with regards to what will be covered and what will not for the agreed price.
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