How to Find a Qualified Home Inspector

Referrals

Know anyone who has had an inspection recently; ask them if they hired an inspector that did a great gob. Can you ask the inspector for references?
YOU BET! ….keep in mind they probably won't give you the names of unhappy clients.

Real estate agents can also be a great source of referrals. They work with home inspectors all the time and trust me they know who does a good job! The agent should give you at least three references--not steer you to one individual.

What does the inspection cover?

• What systems are covered in the home inspection?
• Are there some services that require an extra fee, such as a Radon inspection?
• Will you be given a detailed report with photos of problem areas? It should include a checklist showing results for all systems evaluated. It should also include reports in paragraph form.
• Ask for a time estimate. A thorough inspection can take 3-5 hours or more.

Inspect the Inspector

Ask your inspector what training he/she has. How long have them been inspecting homes? Check out their website. RC LANN is a Certified Master Inspector.

Important Questions

• Where was the inspector trained?
• Does he or she attend continuing education classes?
• Does the inspector belong to a professional organization? If so, what are the requirements for membership? Entry should require more than just an application fee.

On inspection day

Should I attend the entire inspection? You bet you should. This is a great time to learn about your house and ways that you can fix and maintain it. Home buyers sometimes get excited about minor problems simply because they don't have an understanding of what's really wrong. Witnessing problems first-hand will give you a better grasp of what is and is not an issue.