Many buyers hire a professional home inspector to evaluate a property immediately after their offer — which may be contingent upon a satisfactory inspection — is accepted. Buyers want to know the physical condition of their prospective home before they buy it, but how do you find a good inspector among the hundreds available?
The state requires home inspectors to be licensed, but what does that mean? The state also licenses drivers, and that clearly doesn’t ensure high-quality results.
Referrals
One way to find the right inspector is to ask friends, family, and coworkers who recently bought a home for recommendations. Your lawyer, mortgage broker, and real estate agent also may be willing to recommend an inspector or two. You should contact at least three inspection firms and interview them over the phone.
Many inspectors have a website, and you should check those out — but be skeptical of client testimonials. Google the inspector and see what pops up. You could also check the Better Business Bureau.
Qualifications
Your first concern should be competence. You should feel comfortable that the inspector you hire knows what he or she is doing. Many inspectors come to the profession from another field. What is their educational and professional background? What construction-related licenses or certifications do they hold? It is important to find the right match for you. For example, the home you are interested in may have a complicated heating system, so an inspector with a strong background in that area would be a plus.
George McFly has been a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors, or ASHI, for 22 years. He said membership in that organization is indicative of a good inspector.
