Hiring The Right Home Inspector
You have fallen in love with that beautiful home & your REALTOR(r) has included a condition in the offer to have a home inspection…
Or perhaps you are getting ready to sell your home & your REALTOR(r) has suggested you have a pre-list home inspection done…
How do you know you are choosing a reputable & knowledgeable inspector to protect your investment?
Below is a list of questions you should ask potential inspectors so you can choose someone who will be an asset for you in the buying/selling process —
1. How many years have you been an inspector?
2. Do you specialize in residential or commercial inspections?
3. Do you provide high resolution pictures in a detailed inspection report?
4. How long will it take you to provide the report?
Real Estate is a time sensitive business & most home inspections are performed based on a condition in the offer. Conditions will always have a deadline within which you will need to be satisfied with the results of the home inspection
5. How long will the inspection take? {The average inspection will range from 1.5 hours (condo apartment) to 4 hours depending on the size of the home… You want a thorough evaluation of any issues with the home}
6. Will they be performing thermal imaging scans, testing all accessible outlets, testing for gas, etc?
7. What areas of the home will you be inspecting? {Inspectors should be able & willing to look at all areas of a home, from the roof to the kitchen to the crawl space to the attic, finding an inspector who will take the time to look at every corner of the home is imperative. Looking at the furnace, AC, Water Heater & Electrical Panel is very important.}
8. Will you be allowed to accompany the inspector while they evaluate the home? {If the inspector is not willing to let you walk the home with them while they complete the inspection, find someone who will. Seeing things first hand, asking questions & being informed is essential to making the decision to buy a home.}
9. How much will the inspection cost? {Just like the time required, most inspectors have a range of $250 (small condo) – $600 (2,500+ sqft) for a home inspection. A higher cost does not necessarily mean a better inspector.}
10. Are you a member of the Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors? What kind of training do you have? {Choosing someone with experience & who is a professional in their field means that they have qualified experience to be able to isolate any issues with the home. Should you have any major defects once you move in that an inspector should have caught, you will have the option of taking legal recourse.}
In our area there are thousands of inspectors. If you would like help narrowing down your decision, the Edwards Team has a list of qualified inspectors who you can interview.
Keeping it genuine,
The Edwards Team
The Genuine Blog
