10
Questions to Ask Home Inspectors
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.
