A new home can be the largest purchase you may ever make. Therefore, you want to make sure your dream home is just that – everything you want it to be – and not a problem waiting to happen that requires lots of work due to termites, rotting foundations or crumbling chimneys.

Unfortunately, incompetent home inspectors do exist, so it’s important you choose a home inspector who is qualified to find potential defects. Here are some tips to help you screen and find a home inspector you can trust.

1. Get recommendations.

To find a skilled home inspector, ask for recommendations from family, friends, your banker or attorney. You also can ask your Realtor to provide you with a list of inspectors. However, find out if the inspector is affiliated with the real estate agency. If so, don’t use him/her since the Realtor and inspector have a financial incentive for wanting the home sale to go through.

2. Interview the inspector.

Review his/her resume and ask questions about his/her credentials and experience. Questions to ask include:

• Are you a professional engineer? A PE has extensive knowledge about a home’s systems?
• Are you licensed or certified? Note: most states don’t require licensing or certification. And those that do, may only require minimal training.
• Are you associated with a professional inspection organization, like the National Association of Home Inspectors, the National Institute of Building Inspectors or the American Society of Home Inspectors? These organizations require members to abide by strict standardized practices and a code of ethics. Plus, they often require continuing education, written examinations and the completion of a specific number of paid professional home inspections.
• How long have you been in business? A good inspector will have been in business for at least 15 years.
• How many inspections have you performed? A good inspector will perform at least 250 inspections a year.
• Do you have general liability and errors and omissions insurance? General liability insurance covers property or bodily damage that occurs during the inspection. Errors and omissions insurance covers things that the inspector may have overlooked during a home inspection.
• How long does it take you to do an inspection? A thorough inspection should take 3 to 4 hours.
• Do you provide a written report? This report shouldn’t be just a handwritten checklist, but a detailed report that includes an overview of the house on the day of inspection, a list of things needing maintenance, and a list of items requiring major repairs. Ask if he/she includes an estimated repair or replacement cost for each item. Also, ask when you will receive the report. Quick checklists are often provided at the conclusion of the inspection. Detailed reports take a few days to receive.
• How much will the inspection cost? A thorough inspection by a qualified, experienced inspector will not be cheap. So don’t hire someone based on price alone.
• Do you offer a guarantee? A good inspector should have a written guarantee for a reasonable amount of time after your inspection.

If an inspector gets defensive with your questions or hesitates when answering, you should rule the person out.

3. Do a background check.

Verify an inspector’s license. Check for complaints by calling the inspector’s professional association, the local Better Business Bureau and companies like Angie’s List.

By hiring an experienced, qualified inspector, you can find out about potential problems before you purchase a home. Then you can have your Realtor ask the homeowners if they would be willing to fix these issues prior to the sale – saving you time and money.

If you’re looking for a new home, contact Grandview Lending to help you work through the complex mortgage lending process. Our experienced specialists have extensive knowledge about the loan programs available and will help you find one that best fits your needs.

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