Look For These 6 Qualities in Your Home Inspector

The need to have a home assessed before making any financial commitments cannot be overemphasized. Roughly 90% of homeowners in America consider home inspections as a must-have. With home inspection services, you can identify structural damage and assess the state of a property before signing on the dotted line. There are a number of things you need to always consider in order to get the best results, however. Here are the qualities of a reliable nationally certified master inspector.

1. Experience

You can never go wrong with a home inspector that has been in this field for many years. This is because the inspector will have learned the ropes over the years and thus knows how to do a good job. Sure, some greenhorn home inspection service providers can deliver great results, but you’re in a safer pair of hands with someone that proven experience. Hiring someone experienced means that you can be assured that the job will be done right the first time.

2. Knowledge

It goes without saying that a new-construction inspection job isn’t for every person. This tells that you need to always go for someone with the required skillset lest your money ends up going down the drain. Home inspectors should have the required training and have certification to prove the same. Therefore, someone who claims to be a nationally certified master inspector without proper certification should make you think twice.

3. Reputation

They say that a good name is worth its weight in gold and this cannot be truer than when it comes to home inspections. A nationally certified master inspector will do all they can to keep clients satisfied. Thanks to the advent of the internet, pointing out a good home inspection company is only a click away. A quick glance at customer reviews online will help you know if you are looking at a reliable home inspector or not. Having a few negative reviews is nothing much to worry about, but many alarming comments should raise eyebrows.

Homeowners who have been on this journey before can also come in handy. A word from them will help you know the best home inspection services in town as well as those that you need to avoid. In a nutshell, researching a home inspector’s reputation will help you know what you are getting yourself into.

4. Cost

The 21st-century economy is nothing short of unforgiving and it would be for your own good to save every dime. A nationally certified master inspector offering budget-friendly services is worth considering. On the flip side, going for the cheapest inspectors in town could mean compromising on quality now that you’ll get what you pay for.

Keep in mind that home inspection companies are also in business and this means there is room to bargain. The best way to go about this is by getting a number of price quotes from some of the home inspection companies near you and making a comparison.

5. Written Agreements

Word of mouth is simply not enough when it comes to home inspections. It’s always prudent to have everything in writing. This is a job that comes with a lot of moving parts and it wouldn’t be surprising to disagree at some point. A written agreement serves as a safety net in the event that a home inspector fails to honor what you had earlier agreed on. With such a document, not only will you be able to call them out but also have enough evidence should matters end up in court. Any inspector who isn’t willing to work on written terms is a no-go zone.

6. Insurance

From breaking windows to falling through the ceiling, a nationally certified master inspector is faced with lots of dangers. A personal injury case is the last thing you want, and this is why it’s important to hire an insured home inspector. Remember that injury cases are not only time consuming but also costly as well.

Conclusion

A home inspection is beyond any reasonable doubt a great idea. However, you need to get a professional who will get the job done correctly the first time. With these tips, getting the best inspector shouldn’t be as hard.