Who is a Home Inspector
A home inspection is done to determine the condition of a structure. A home inspector with the required training and state certification performs a home inspection when a property is being bought or sold. The home inspector is not to be mistaken for a real estate appraiser as an appraiser determines the value of the property. A professional home inspection is the examination of the house’s current state.
There are various professional associations for home inspectors that provide education, training, and networking opportunities for them. The home inspector is not responsible for verifying compliance with the code of ethics or building codes, but home inspections identify problems found and the predicted outcome of these problems. A limited, non-invasive inspection of the home’s condition is all the home inspection is. After the inspection, there is a written report prepared and presented to the client detailing the findings in the home. It is then up to the client to use the information given to make an informed decision about whether they will proceed with the transaction.
What Does A Home Inspector Do
Home inspectors are trained to identify and record the status of the parts of a property. The inspector will look at the house’s HVAC system, electrical and plumbing systems, roof, attic, doors, windows, floors, and even septic tanks. The inspection usually lasts between 2-4 hours or it could be longer depending on the size of the house or if it is one of the older homes. When the inspector finishes and provides you with a report, we don’t suggest you look at the number of defects found. We suggest you look at the major issues over the minor ones.
Some safety issues are critical, and so the inspection report is vitally important. The home inspector’s checklist is extremely thorough; they observe, examine, and test every and anything having to do with the house. The inspector takes a detailed look at the various systems including the electrical system. He checks the condition they are in and notes them. Water damage is one of the fundamental things the inspector looks for because it can cause major issues to your home and can impact the sale of the home and its resale value. Another thing the inspector tests is the structural integrity of the home. Foundations stay in one place, but over time, water can cause the soil around the foundation walls to expand. Cracks in the roof and walls are also other serious things the inspector checks.
Why Should You Care About Choosing The Right Home Inspector?
Inspections reveal the problems you would never imagine are present. A high-quality home inspection can only come from a reputable professional. One thing to keep in mind when choosing a home inspector is how thorough and trustworthy the inspector is. Buying a home is a huge financial investment and you need to ensure you make the right choice. Choosing the wrong inspector or home inspection company will not only result in unrecognized damage and safety hazards but will also end up costing you money or your health/life. Take the time to choose your home inspector wisely.
4 Tips On Choosing The Right Home Inspector
A part of the home buying process includes choosing the right certified home inspector to give you a detailed outline of the home’s condition. This decision can have a lasting impact on whether you make the purchase of the home or not.
Tip #1: Look for a company that is bonded and insured: One of the most important questions to ask when interviewing a home inspector is finding out if they have insurance. A home inspector may however conduct business without insurance depending on your area. Climbing in attics and wandering through basements and a crawl space carries a high amount of risk, which is why reputable home inspectors have insurance.
Tip #2: Find out what they include in the inspection and its duration: Knowing what the inspector will look for helps you in shopping around and making comparisons. It’s important to know exactly what you’ll receive before you agree to an arrangement. Also, as stated before, the inspection should last at least 2 hours. We do not advise that you hire someone who says they will get the job done in an hour. It is unlikely that the inspector will do a thorough job in that limited time span.
Tip #3: Get references: Having references when hiring a service is always a bonus. You want to get references from at least a few different clients because you can ask each of them about his or her experience using the inspection company. Although, a disadvantage to this could be that the company provides you with the contacts of their most satisfied customers. Make a note to check multiple references.
Tip #4: Request a sample inspection report: From walls of texts to colored reports with pictures, the home inspection report comes in many formats. A picture is useful in an inspection report and we suggest you hire an inspector who has brightly-lit colors in his report of any issues found.
Conclusion
Prospective buyers need to go into the purchasing of their home knowing what they are getting into. One of the biggest decisions you will ever make financially is buying a home. It is devastating to miss an issue before handing over your money. Real estate agents, like home buyers, do not know how to recognize defects. The home inspector has to ensure that most issues are found and the inspectors at Home Pro Inspections are here to share their expertise with you. Contact us to get started with our home inspection services.