One of the many decisions that you need to make when you purchase a home is if you want to spend money on a home inspection. I think that most, if not all, real estate agents would recommend that you have a professional home inspector do an inspection to discover any minor or major issues. Over the years I have been amazed at the items a good inspector will turn up that won’t be apparent to most home buyers or agents.
When choosing an inspector you may want to consider the following:
- Look for an inspector that is a member of either the California Real Estate Inspection (CREIA) or the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). I would suggest you visit each websites for information regarding their “Standard of Care”. California does not require a home inspector to be licensed.
- Decide what type of report you want. Different inspection companies offer different reports. The lower cost reports tend to be a checklist format on NCR paper. Once the inspection is done each party gets a copy of the inspection on the spot. Other methods include electronic inspections on tablet computers and narrative reports. These are generally available in a few days of the inspection date.
- Just like finding the right fit with the REALTOR® your working with, find a inspector that fits what you are looking for. Your agent can help you with suggestions or you may speak to a few inspectors on the telephone. Some inspectors are much better at explaining issues to “first time” buyers, while others may not take that time.
- Ask if the Inspector carries any errors and omission insurance. Some inspection companies carry such insurance if they miss a serious issue, which may help in a future claim.
- Be there for the inspection – at least the final overview. Unless you are out of town or can’t get off work, I really advise Clients to attend the home inspection. When representing Clients that are buyer’s I will always request that the Seller and the Seller’s agent not attend the inspection. This gives the inspector the time to properly inspect the property without involvement from the Seller or Listing Agent. After the inspection is done the Buyers can review with the inspector those items outline in the report and ask questions while still at the property.
It is illegal for a real estate agent to get any kind of kickback or value from recommending a service provider. We can however recommend services that we have had experience with and feel are professional in nature. For my recommendations and website links please visit my Home Inspection page at www.JeffreyDouglass.com.
If you have any specific questions please post them in the comments section below
{ 1 trackback }