Hiring a Home Inspector

When buying a home, a home inspection in an important part of the process. During a home inspection, a certified professional evaluates your prospective home. The job of the home inspector is to protect the buyer from problems that already exist in the home, whether the seller may be aware of it or not.

The home inspector does an in-depth and impartial evaluation. This in-depth evaluation includes the physical condition, structure, construction, and mechanical systems of the home. The inspector points out any possible repairs required now, or that may come up in the future.

Can I save some money by skipping the inspection? There is no law that you must have your home inspected before purchasing, but having the house inspected will very likely save you more money than the inspection costs. The inspector can give you information that will allow you to negotiate a lower price, or even walk away from a very bad deal.

Can I get the home seller to pay for the inspection? You can, but it is not a good idea. If the seller pays for it, then the seller gets the report. If the seller pays for the report, the inspector will give them information that will allow them to hide some apparent defects, and get the upper hand by fixing items that you would have been able to use to negotiate a lower price. In addition, if the seller pays for the inspection, the inspector might have a hard time being impartial and any bad reports may be understated.

My Real Estate Agent has a recommended inspector. Should I use them? Many Realtors rely on referred services to help they sell their homes. They may work with specific bankers, inspectors, appraisers, lawyers and more. However, you really consider finding your own inspector. Each year many homeowners are defrauded when buying a house using the realtors’ “team” as the value of the home is inflated causing the buyer to be unable to sell it at a reasonable price, or worse. The buyer could be stuck with a house that is not up to code and defective as well.

How do I find my own Home Inspector? Check with friends who have purchased homes recently. If you cannot get a good recommendation, check the yellow pages listings and ask your prospective home inspectors for references.