If you think getting a home inspection is just one more thing you have to check off the list on your road to closing, you’d be mistaken.
Home inspections are critical to assessing the overall safety of your future home. They also alert you to potential problems that could crop up in months or years to come as well as serve as a useful initiation into home ownership, regardless if you’re a first-time home buyer or not. More than just inspecting your home, your inspector will serve as a helpful resource in teaching you about how to properly care for and maintain your home.
With so much at stake with a home inspection, hiring an experienced professional should be a no-brainer. Let’s take a moment to review the most important things you should look for when hiring a home inspector.
What to Look For in a Home Inspector:
Experience and certifications – How long has your inspector been in business and does he or she hold any accreditations? Certified Master Inspectors, for example, are required to have completed more than 1,000 hours of inspections and be in the business for at least three years. Ongoing education is also an important pillar of certification.
Previous reports – Your inspector should be willing to share examples of previous reports or a sample report so you can see how comprehensive they are. You want a professional who will deliver a thorough report covering all areas of the home.
Length of inspections – If a home inspection is to be thorough, it need to last at least a couple of hours. If someone says they’ll be in and out in an hour, you should keep on looking.
Conflict of interest – Home inspectors should inspect homes. Period. If you encounter a home inspector who says he or she is willing to take on any home repairs or directs you to a contractor to complete the repairs, this sets up a conflict of interest. A professional home inspector will give you an unbiased assessment of the property, and you can then address any need for repairs separately.
Willingness to have you present during inspection – Home inspections are valuable for homeowners to learn as much as they can about the house. The inspector you hire should
encourage you to attend at least part of the inspection so you can ask questions and feel confident that you are well-prepared to take on whatever results the report may find.
Professional home inspectors are trained and experienced in assessing overall safety issues with a home. This is not a job to be taken lightly. Get in touch with us today at 786-732-0342 if you have more questions about home inspectors and what we look for during our extensive home inspections.