Once you have selected your dream home; how do you find the
right home inspector to investigate your future home and investment? In the selection process; there are seven
critical questions you should ask a home inspector.
1. Is the
home inspector licensed by the state or approved agency? Many states require a home inspector to
obtain a state license to inspect homes.
If you are obtaining financing through a government program, VA, HUD, or
FHA; that agency may also require an additional certification or approval for
the home inspector. You should verify
the license with your state or agency prior to contracting the home inspector.
2. What is
the inspector’s background and certifications? The inspector’s background certifications are
critical to their understanding of building technologies. Your inspector should have a basic knowledge
of the construction process to thoroughly evaluate the property being
inspected. The inspector should be able
to determine whether a crack is structural or cosmetic based on their knowledge
of the buildings obscured structure that lies beneath the drywall. Has the inspector stayed current on modern
building technologies and what certifications have they completed? Home inspector organizations, like National
Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI), require inspectors to stay current and
take continuing education units (CEUs) that often exceed state
requirements. Ask if they are a member
of a national organization.
3. How many
years has the company been in business?
Has the company met the requirements to stay in business and are they
current with modern building technologies.
4. Ask how
many inspections a day does the inspector complete? Is the inspector working for your best
interests or his? One or two is the
answer you are looking for. If the
inspector is completing three or more, it is likely they are cutting corners to
complete all the inspections.
5. How much
time is spent at an inspection? This
number should vary based on the size of a home.
The basic number you are looking for is 1 hour per 1000 square feet. If the inspector is inspecting a 3,500 sq. ft.
home in less than 3½ hours on site, they are most likely not the best inspector
for your family. This time should not
include the completion of the written report.
6. Written Report, How Long? How many Photos? There
are many styles of written reports, which will be determined by the preference
of the inspector. That being said, style
is not as important as content. There
should be at least one summary page, one page per system (7) and one page per
room. A typical 3 bedroom, 2 bath, and
two car garage should have a minimum of 20 pages excluding photos. Photos again may be a personal preference but
should include at least one per deficiency noted in the report. The minimum number is 15-20, but if a picture
is worth a thousand words, 20-30 is better.
7. Does the Inspection Company and the Inspector
carry insurance? Who would the
courts consider liable for damage to the property during the time of the
inspection? What type of insurance do
they carry and what is the liability amount of the insurance? Many states require an inspector carry minimum
liability insurance, but would it cover full damages to the property in the
worst case scenario?
When purchasing your home, you may not have to
be an expert on the home, but you should have a knowledgeable inspector on your
side. You should feel secure in the
knowledge that your family and your investments are safe. Choose wisely, when selecting a home
inspector and never put your family’s safety at risk by waiving the inspection. Never select an inspection company based on
price or how quick they can complete an inspection. One item found by a competent inspector can
save you thousands of dollars in repairs down the road. |
Frank Carr is the Owner / Inspector at First Choice Home
Inspections in Deltona, FL serving Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Lake
Counties. Formerly in the building trades, Frank’s focus is a safe home
in the Orlando Metro and Daytona Beach areas of Central Florida and building FCHI. We believe that consumers have the right to expect
the highest standards of thoroughness, fairness and effectiveness from
their home inspector and that is exactly what we provide.
First Choice Home Inspections
Residential Home Inspections in Central Florida
(386) 624-3893
Website: http://1homeinspector.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/1stChoiceHomeIn
