What You Need to Know Before Hiring a Home Inspector

Buying a home is an enormous investment, and as a homebuyer, you have the right to know exactly what you are purchasing. A thorough home inspection report can give you the information and understanding you deserve. 

But all inspection services are not made equal. Before hiring a home inspector, you need to do a little homework, ask questions, and get to know their clientele. 

Let’s dive right in and discover exactly what you need to know!

Level of Experience and Knowledge

Before you decide on a home inspection company, you should find out how much experience and knowledge they have. An inspection team with the proper training, credentials, and insurance protects you and your best interests.

Ask questions like:

• How long have you been inspecting homes?
• What are your certifications?
• Are you bonded and insured?
• What are your standards of practice?
• How do you stay up-to-date on information? 

Of course, if someone has 50 years of experience, that may seem impressive, but then the question begs, how current is their knowledge? You want your home inspector to have a balance between experience and education. 

Answering Your Questions

Divinity Inspection Service has served customers in the Tampa Bay Area since 1979. We are bonded, insured, and certified. Our standards of practice are outlined by the InterNACHI which is an international standard set to provide you with a thorough analysis of your home from top to bottom.

Every inspector on the Divinity Inspection Service team has a minimum of five years of experience inspecting homes, and they are continually trained in new inspection technology and tools. 

Many of our inspectors are or have been construction contractors. Their understanding of the way a home should be built is superior to standard home inspectors because they could build your house themselves!

Referrals or References

Word of mouth is golden. If someone you know had a home inspection and loved the service they received, that is where you should start. 

But not everyone has a friend or family member who had a good experience hiring a home inspector. After all, a quality home inspector should provide customers with a meticulous and accurate report that helps them to make an educated decision about the residential property they plan to buy or sell. 

So how can you find the best home inspector in Tampa Bay without referrals? Ask the company for references! If a business is unable to provide you with a list of references, continue your search elsewhere.

Another way to check out what other people think is through reviews and social media. Since these platforms are public, it’s very easy to find out exactly what customers like you think of the company. 

Visit us on Facebook or browse our reviews on Yelp and Google.

Transparency

A home inspector is your ally. You should be able to trust them to inform you of everything they find. When they are transparent, they explain things to you and let you walk along with them during their inspection.

If an inspector doesn’t want to speak with you openly about the company, their practices, or the inspections, it’s a huge red flag. When hiring a home inspector, you deserve transparency. If they aren’t willing to give you that, they may be hiding something like inexperience. 

Sample Reports

Inspection services should always have a sample report available. This gives customers a preview of what to expect during and after an inspection. 

After all, you should know what you are paying for. 

Every inspection service business is different. Some send your report by digital file, others use a printed checklist that includes every aspect they will inspect. The form that your sample report comes in doesn’t give it any more or less worth. What you need to look for is detail.

The more thorough your inspector is, the longer the sample report will be. If you are feeling a little overwhelmed, that’s okay. Your inspector should be happy to answer your questions.

What you don’t want to see is too much simplicity. Collect sample reports from multiple companies so that you can compare them. Hiring a home inspector is a careful process that takes time and patience. 

Hiring a Home Inspector in Tampa Bay

The joy of purchasing a new property might distract you from the hidden flaws that threaten your finances. But they will remain a burden far after the excitement wears off. Always opt to receive a home inspection before signing! 

Divinity Inspection Service is available 7 days a week to inspect your house in Tampa Bay and provide the most thorough reports available. If you are looking for a home inspector that you can trust, get in touch with us.