5 TIPS TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT HOME INSPECTOR
The housing market in the Flathead Valley has been hot for the last couple of years. Realtors, buyers, and sellers have been moving at full speed. Regardless of whether you’re selling, buying, brokering a deal, or remodeling, you’ll need a home inspection during the process.
Home inspections serve several important purposes. In addition to proving the satisfactory condition of the home, they help interested parties, like buyers, educate themselves about possible defects in the home, and avoid the surprise of costly repairs. Home inspections are especially important for out-of-state buyers, who very often have never seen the home they’re buying and need “eyes on the ground” to make sure the home is a good investment.
Still, finding the right home inspector can be easier said than done. In this post, we’ll discuss how to find a Montana home inspector you can trust, qualifications to look for, and everything else you need to know.
5 Tips to Choose a Home Inspector
Follow these five tips to choose the best home inspector for your needs:
1. Find an inspector who will perform the home inspection in your presence
Many people think home inspectors only work alone. Fortunately, that’s a misconception. In fact, the best home inspectors will encourage buyers, sellers, or other interested parties to attend the home inspection if possible.
Doing so will help you understand the things the home inspector is pointing out, and help you be more informed about the home. As long as you follow some common etiquette practices, attending the home inspection can be a positive, informative experience.
2. Read the inspector’s customer reviews
For more information on the home inspector, head to review sites like Google, Facebook, and Yelp. Keep an eye out for any reviews that are very positive or very negative. These reviews will speak to the home inspector’s strengths or weaknesses, and help you understand what you can expect if you choose to work with them.
3. Ask about certifications
Before you decide on an inspector to hire, find out about the inspector’s background and certifications. What is the experience level and background of the Home Inspector? How many inspections has he or she done? Do they have specialized certifications, and if so in what areas?
Instead of hiring someone who does home inspections as a part-time job, look for someone who is a full-time home inspector, and not a part-time contractor.
4. Ask about what the inspection does and does not include
In some climates, home inspectors won’t inspect certain things during certain times of the year.
Here in Montana, for example, an inspector might not inspect a patio, driveway, deck, or roof that’s covered in snow. If the inspector won’t examine those things, ask about the best way to check their condition.
You may also want to ask about the services the inspector does offer. For example, do they handle labs and lab results? What about thermal imaging and drone inspections? Does the team offer mold and radon inspections? Be sure you get a complete picture of the home inspector’s services before you decide to hire the team.
5. Ask for copies of licenses and insurance
Before you hire the inspector, ask the inspector for copies of their license and insurance documents. Is the inspector a member of a professional organization like ASHI, NAHI, or InterNACHI? Each member of 406 Home Inspection Pros is, and we list our license and certification numbers right on our website for your convenience.
Great home inspectors will willingly provide copies of these documents, and other proof of their quality.
Finding The Right Home Inspector for You
Your home is likely the largest investment you’ll ever make. Whether you’re building a new home, selling your home, or buying a pre-owned property, choosing an excellent home inspector is critical to protecting that investment.
The right home inspector will find defects in a home that could cost you, the buyer, money down the road. And as a seller, a home inspection can identify issues that may get in the way of closing the sale.
When you’re buying or selling a home, having a qualified home inspector is imperative. At 406 Home Inspection, we promise a thorough and complete home inspection, every time!
Contact us today for all of your home inspection, and independent mold, radon, and asbestos testing needs.
I like how you said that reviews can give you a better sense of the strengths and weaknesses of possible home inspectors. My best friend and her fiance want to hire an inspector before they purchase a house. I think it would benefit them to contact past clients personally on top of reading online reviews.
Hello Charlotte
Thank you for your comment
That has been brought up before and I can certainly see the value in it. Confidentiality is part of our industry as well so that could be challenging. What I can tell you is the single biggest mistake people make in looking for a Home Inspector is shopping price. There are no apples to apples comparisons in this industry. You usually get what you pay for here.
It makes sense that you should find one that has positive reviews. My husband and I want to move into a new home in February, so I want to look into hiring a home inspector that can help us make sure we can find a home without any underlying issues. I’ll keep these tips in mind as we search for a home inspection service.
Thank you so much for sharing this information about RIGHT HOME INSPECTOR. This is very nice and inspiring!! Thanks for sharing and look for more in future!! I hope you keep updating us with such great tips and information in future too. This is a great post; I will share as much as I can.
Perfect, Thanks!
The work is done very well. I will surely learn more after reading this article about remodeling, buying, selling, and deal-broking. Your idea is absolutely fantastic.
It was helpful when you said to see if they will give you a copy of their insurance. My husband told me last night at dinner about how he needs to hire a home inspector once we find a home we want to move into sometime this spring, so I wanted to make sure we knew how to hire the right one. I’ll keep these tips in mind as we search for a home inspection service.