Buying a house can be a big investment. Therefore, you want to make sure the home you’re buying doesn’t have serious safety problems or defects. So, it’s important to take the time to choose a qualified home inspector, because, unfortunately, there are incompetent inspectors out there.

Here are some tips to help you screen potential home inspectors to make sure the one you choose is qualified for the job.

1. There are several ways to find a home inspector. Your Realtor may be able provide you with a list of inspectors. You may want to ask your banker or attorney for referrals. You can contact a national organization like the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI) for a list of inspectors in your area. Or, you can do a general Google search. However, the best way to find an inspector is to ask friends and family members for recommendations of inspectors they have personally used and were satisfied with their performance.
2. Contact the inspector and interview him/her. If the inspector gets defensive with your questions, rule the person out. A good inspection company shouldn’t mind your questions upfront.
3. When dealing with an inspection company, tell them you want an experienced inspector to do the inspection – not someone new in the business.
4. Find out how long the inspector has been in business, how many home inspections he/she has performed and how knowledgeable he/she is regarding all the systems in a home. A good inspector may have a degree in engineering or architecture, or they may have trained as a general contractor. You want an inspector with at least 15 years of formal training and full-time, on-the-job experience. Also a good inspector will perform at least 250 inspections a year.
5. Prior to the call find out if your state requires licensing. Most states don’t. But if your state does require a license, ask the inspector if he/she is licensed.
6. Ask if he/she is certified or belongs to a professional home inspection organization like NAHI or the American Society of Home Inspectors. Certification and/or affiliation with an organization will likely ensure that the inspector abides to strict standardized practices and a code of ethics. However, make sure the certification is from a reputable source instead of those obtained through quick-study courses or sold through trade organizations.
7. Does the inspector have general liability insurance and errors and omissions insurance? These policies cover the inspector in the event of property damage or bodily damage to him/her during the inspection and to you and your family in case something occurs at a later date that he/she missed on the report.
8. Ask if the inspector provides a detailed written report and not just a handwritten checklist which may be hard to read and lacking in all the information you need. The report should include: a) A detailed overview of the house on the day of the inspection, including all the major components and their condition; b) A list of things needing maintenance; and c) A list of items requiring major repairs. The report should clearly identify and explain the problem plus what needs to be done. The inspector also may provide an estimated repair/replacement cost for each item. Ask if you can obtain a sample report to review to make sure you can understand what the inspector will be providing.
9. Ask him/her when you would get the report. Checklist or handwritten reports are usually given to you at the conclusion of an inspection. If the inspector brings a laptop with him/her, he/she may be able to provide a more detailed report on-site. Otherwise, a detailed report will probably be mailed to you, so you need to know how many days it may take before you receive it.
10. Find out how long the inspection will take. A thorough inspection will take more than 2 hours.
11. Find out what equipment the inspector uses. While many inspectors will only bring a flashlight, savvy inspectors may use more advanced testing devices like carbon monoxide and gas analyzers, electrical circuit analyzers or digital cameras.
12. Ask how much the inspection will cost. A more qualified, experienced inspector will not be the cheap. You don’t want to hire someone based on cost that may miss potential problems that may cost you thousands of dollars in the near future.

By hiring an experienced, qualified inspector, you can uncover potential problems that you may be able to get the current homeowners to fix before you move in – 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 brokers have extensive knowledge of the many loan programs available and will help you find one that fits your needs.