How to Select a Qualified Home Inspector

The key professional qualifications of a Professional Home Inspector are experience, standards, and ethics. You should not leave your search until the last minute. Interview a Professional Home Inspector as soon as you find the right house.

FINDING A GOOD INSPECTOR

• Ask real estate agents, lenders or other professionals associated with the housing business for recommendations.

• Home inspection services are usually listed in the yellow pages under "Building Inspection Services" or "Real Estate Inspectors."

• The homebuyer should look for these qualifications:
  
  
  1. Experience
  2. Impartiality
  3. Certification

Here are some questions to ask:

• Is the inspector a Certified Member of the American Society of Home Inspectors?

• How long has the inspector been in business?

• Is the inspector specifically experienced in residential inspections?

• Does the company do any repairs or improvements or make referrals to those who do? Such offers and/or referrals constitute an apparent conflict of interest and would be grounds to reject the inspector.

• How long will the inspection take? (The average is 2 to 2½ hours.)

• What will it include? (Get specifics.)

• What will it cost? (The national average is $250.00.)

• Does the inspection include a permanent report: written, video taped, etc.

• Does the inspector encourage the client to attend the inspection? This is a valuable educational opportunity and he/she should welcome the client along.

• Does the inspector participate in continuing education programs to keep his/her qualifications current?

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