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Before you make your final buying or selling decision, you should have
the home inspected by a professional. An inspection can alert you to
potential problems with a property and allow you to make an informed
decision. Ask these questions to prospective home inspectors:
1. Will your inspection meet recognized
standards? Ask whether the inspection and the inspection report
will meet all state requirements and comply with a well-recognized
standard of practice and code of ethics, such as the one adopted by
the American Society of Home Inspectors or the National Association of
Home Inspectors. Customers can view each group’s standards of practice
and code of ethics online at
www.ashi.org or
www.nahi.org.
ASHI’s Web site also provides a database of state regulations.
2. Do you belong to a professional home inspector association?
There are many state and national associations for home inspectors,
including the two groups mentioned in No. 1. Unfortunately, some
groups confer questionable credentials or certifications in return for
nothing more than a fee. Insist on members of reputable, nonprofit
trade organizations; request to see a membership ID.
3. How experienced are you? Ask how long inspectors have been
in the profession and how many inspections they’ve completed. They
should provide customer referrals on request. New inspectors also may
be highly qualified, but they should describe their training and let
you know whether they plan to work with a more experienced partner.
4. How do you keep your expertise up to date? Inspectors’
commitment to continuing education is a good measure of their
professionalism and service. Advanced knowledge is especially
important in cases in which a home is older or includes unique
elements requiring additional or updated training.
5. Do you focus on residential inspection? Make sure the
inspector has training and experience in the unique discipline of home
inspection, which is very different from inspecting commercial
buildings or a construction site. If your customers are buying a
unique property, such as a historic home, they may want to ask whether
the inspector has experience with that type of property in particular.
6. Will you offer to do repairs or improvements? Some state
laws and trade associations allow the inspector to provide repair work
on problems uncovered during the inspection. However, other states and
associations forbid it as a conflict of interest. Contact your local
ASHI chapter to learn about the rules in your state.
7. How long will the inspection take? On average, an inspector
working alone inspects a typical single-family house in two to three
hours; anything significantly less may not be thorough. If your
customers are purchasing an especially large property, they may want
to ask whether additional inspectors will be brought in.
8. What’s the cost? Costs can vary dramatically, depending on
your region, the size and age of the house, and the scope of services.
The national average for single-family homes is about $320, but
customers with large homes can expect to pay more. Customers should be
wary of deals that seem too good to be true.
9. What type of inspection report do you provide? Ask to see
samples to determine whether you will understand the inspector's
reporting style. Also, most inspectors provide their full report
within 24 hours of the inspection.
10. Will I be able to attend the inspection? The answer should
be yes. A home inspection is a valuable educational opportunity for
the buyer. An inspector's refusal to let the buyer attend should raise
a red flag.
Source: Rob Paterkiewicz, executive director,
American Society of Home Inspectors, Des Plaines, Ill.,
www.ashi.org.
Reprinted from
REALTORMAG with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS
Copyright 2008 All rights reserved. |
