My research
has shown the majority of information on this subject comes from people who are
not home inspectors. So I am going to
give you my opinion on the subject. Who
am I? I am a licensed home inspector in
the state of New Jersey for over ten years.
This is my condensed list of what I would look for in a home inspector when
in the process of finding one.
·
What
you have to address first, is cost your main concern? The process of buying a house is expensive
and I do understand you have to save where ever you can. But think about it. Is the inspection really where you want to
cut costs? This is going to be your home
for you and your family. You’re spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to
buy it. You will find cheap inspection
companies out there. But just like any
other business there has to be a tradeoff for a cheaper price. Will quality of the inspection be that trade
off?
· One
important question I think should be asked is how long you have been inspecting
homes. Experience just like in any other
business will make you better at what you do.
·
The
majority of home inspection companies are small. Just one or two inspectors. If when you call you get a feeling you are
talking to an answering service, think twice.
I personally like talking to my potential clients. Because it’s a two way process for me. They are interviewing me and I am doing
likewise. If I’m calling a lawyer I don’t what to talk to the secretary I want
to talk to the lawyer. So whoever you
call and they don’t answer, leave them a message. Give them a few hours to
respond. When I am doing a home
inspection I do not answer my phone. My client hired me to do a job for them
and their inspection is what I’m concerned with at that time.
·
If
you have specific concerns about a home inspection this is the time to
ask. Example: a lot of my clients are
concerned about the roof and water in the basement. Hey, let’s talk. I have clients who have asked me am I going
to do the inspection myself, because they interviewed me. They’re not interested in someone else being
sent to do the inspection.
·
This
last item I will bring up is personal to me.
If I hire someone to do a job for me, I want them 100%. Our current president demands complete
loyalty. And why shouldn’t you? You’re paying. I am an independent home inspector. That means no one will influence my findings
in your report. My clients and their
families are my only concern.
I hope this
helps someone out there buying a house. I bought my first house 35 years ago. It was an estate sale that was vacant for a
year. Then there was no such thing as a
home inspector. At that time you didn’t
touch anything; you just walked around and looked. I trusted the professionals involved in the
sale with their input. I got screwed. And I have never forgotten that.