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Factors To Look For In A Home Inspector

(Hiring a good home inspector is important for both the buyer and the seller.)

Normally, before a seller puts their home on the market they will have a home inspector come in and make sure there are no major problems that should be fixed before hand.

A qualified home inspector is equally, if not even more important for the potential homebuyer, because they can detect any problems with the home before the sale is complete, thus potentially saving the buyer a tremendous amount of money in the long run.

But there have long been many debates on what warrants a good inspector. Some people say that a new inspector can be just as qualified as and more efficient than someone who has been doing this job for years.

Others say to only choose an inspector who has completed a certain number of jobs, or maybe one who is familiar with homes such as yours.

The secret is, is that there is no magic formula in choosing a home inspector. The bottom line is to choose someone who is licensed with references, and basically hope for the best.

A November 19, 2006 article by Barry Stone of The Los Angeles Times, “When hiring a home inspector, not all axioms apply,” discusses the most important criteria a person should consider when hiring an inspector.

The most important thing to consider when hiring a home inspector is their professional qualifications and their experience.

“Membership in a recognized association of home inspectors, such as the American Society of Home Inspectors or the National Assn. of Home Inspectors, requires adherence to standards of practice, codes of ethics and ongoing education. On the other hand, no governing body can mandate competent performance or ethical conduct. Not all members are truly qualified.”

So, just because an inspector is a member of one of these organizations does not mean that they really even know what they are doing. This is where getting referrals and recommendations come in handy.

Also, even though an inspector may have years of experience that will help them detect defaults otherwise unfound to an untrained eye; if they are not genuine or honest people, their experience will be overshadowed.

Remember to take a look at the omissions insurance and any other qualifications or certifications.

“Errors and omissions insurance: If an inspector fails to report a major defect, the deep pockets of an insurance company may be the only recourse. On the other hand, some of the most qualified home inspectors forgo this insurance because deep pockets can be an attraction to litigious attorneys.”

“Building code certification: It's not a professional requirement, but some inspectors acquire code credentials to increase their knowledge of potential building defects. This knowledge is unquestionably beneficial. On the other hand, increased knowledge is not related to the inherent ability to observe and evaluate defects. It is possible to know the code yet fail to recognize a problem.”

Before you choose an inspector it is often times helpful to ask for a sample report, because this will give you a good idea of how thorough (or un-thorough) the inspector is.

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