Choosing a Home Inspector
The main objective of a home inspector is to inspect all aspects of a condo, co-op, house or building inside and out to find as many issues or concerns to educate their customer on the condition of the home they are purchasing or selling. The more issues that come up, typically the more leverage a home buyer has in negotiating the sale price or receiving seller concessions.
Although it is less frequent but very wise, some sellers use a home inspector to find any issues with the property prior to selling and make necessary repairs or updates so that future home inspections would go smoothly giving buyers confidence that the home is in good condition. Use the Home Inspector Evaluation Form in the Free Tools section to help you choose which home inspector to use.
Finding a Home Inspector
Finding home inspectors is a very simple process. Either use an online search engine such as Google, (i.e. search "Chicago Home Inspectors"), look in the Yellow Pages / Yellow Book, or go to the American Society of Home Inspectors at www.ashi.org. Once you find a list of companies, visit their website for more information and check the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org to see if they have any customer complaints. Once this is done, call the home inspectors and interview them.
Home Inspection Cost
The cost of a home inspection differs significantly depending on city or state. As you might guess, more expensive cities such as San Francisco, Chicago and Boston would cost more for a home inspection (i.e. $500 for a single family house) compared to areas such as Phoenix, Dallas or Las Vegas where it may cost only $200-300 for the same size house. It is suggested that you call or email 5-10 home inspection companies. Don't be surprised if they call you back the very next day offering a discount to get your business, so try not to rush and give yourself a few days to select a home inspector.
Questions to Ask
- How long has your company been in business?
- How many years have you been a home inspector and with this company?
- How many inspections have you done for homes similar to the one I am planning to buy?
- How long do you estimate the inspection will take for the home I'm interested in buying?
- Do you have experience with remodeling, home building, repairs and electrical or plumbing?
- You are / are not listed in the Better Business Bureau www.bbb.org. Can you tell me more about that?
- Do you provide pictures along with your home inspection report?
- How soon can I get a copy of the home inspection report?
- What do you think are important factors a person should consider when choosing a home inspector?
- I'm planning to select a home inspector in the next 3 days, what is the best rate you can offer?
