A guide to Inspections and choosing an Inspector...
There should be nothing too mystical or mysterious about home inspections. Many people do not know what to expect or how to approach this whole subject. We would like to clear up some of the misconceptions and questions about inspections. If you are buying or selling a home it is advisable to have the home inspected, especially if your knowledge of home construction is limited. But how do you proceed in getting an inspection or how do you decide which inspector to use? The lure of making big money inspecting homes has resulted in a lot of people entering the field with little or no construction background. Any good inspector will tell you that a quality inspection will take a minimum of 4 hours including driving and report writing time. The idea of getting rich is probably not going to happen unless you work 16-hour days or produce quick generic inspections. When it comes to making a major decision like selling or purchasing a home, it just makes sense to seek out quality expert advice. Take the time necessary to choose the right inspection person, someone who communicates well and can provide you with the advice you need. The first step will be to call one or more inspectors, explain your current situation and give the inspector your required time frame. If you are purchasing, this is usually 5 to 10 days so please call as soon as you can. The inspector will usually be able to tell you if they can schedule your inspection within that time frame or not. Ask for the cost of the inspection but don't let that be your deciding factor, choose the inspector you are most comfortable with, meets your time requirements and has some actual construction or building maintenance experience. The inspection process or methods are always secondary to the inspectors experience and knowledge. Don't be mislead by high-tech gizmos or fancy reports, they don't guarantee a good inspection. Be wary of inspectors who ask to do repair work for you, that could be viewed as a conflict of interest unless there are several other bids from contractors of your choosing. In this situation don’t ask the inspector to provide other contractor names.
The Inspection: The inspection is nothing more than the buyer (or owner) purchasing the unbiased, written opinion of a person who has considerable knowledge and experience in home construction. Basic inspections are visual only and do not include detailed testing of any components. One of the goals of the basic inspection is to determine if a more detailed examination of some of the components is necessary. These more precise and detailed examinations are available at an added cost (sometimes paid by seller) and time investment. Examples of these might be radon, moisture intrusion or furnace heat exchanger testing. Be wary of any inspector who claims they can do all these tests in the space of a few hours, it just is not possible. See our "Further Inspection" tab for more info.
Sellers tips: Have the inspection early, before listing, and make needed repairs. This will usually increase your chances for a quick successful sale.
Buyers tips: Make sure, as part of your offer you ask for enough time to have a home inspection done on the property. Usually five to seven days is adequate with a minimum of 48 hours after the end of the inspection to make any decision.
Anderson Home Services hopes this information will assist you in understanding more about inspections and choosing an inspector. We believe we meet all the qualifications explained in this document and would be honored if you chose us as your inspector.
Common questions concerning inspections and inspectors:
