| Choosing the wrong Home Inspector can cost you a | | | | there are many companies out there looking to make |
| lot more than the fee you paid. If you choose a | | | | a buck off the backs of new home inspectors. Don't |
| home inspector solely on price alone, your headed | | | | fall for the "Certified" or "Master Certified" home |
| down a dangerous highway.I'm still amazed at people | | | | inspector label. Some of these organizations use the |
| who will spend countless hours, days and months | | | | word "Certified" in their name to try and sound |
| looking for just the right home and then choose a | | | | credible. Buyer beware.If you're looking for an |
| home inspector solely because he was $50 or $100 | | | | inspector on new construction, you do want to look |
| than the next guy.Home Inspector Schools are | | | | for a Code "Certified" inspector.Two national home |
| turning out record number of new inspectors. These | | | | inspector associations that you can trust are the |
| people come from all walks of life. One week they | | | | American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI)- and |
| are the door greeter at a department store, the | | | | the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI)- |
| next they're a "Certified" home inspector.Before | | | | has very strict requirements for membership including |
| choosing any inspector there are some things you | | | | passing the National Home Inspector Examination. |
| need to know.Tip #1: Research, research and | | | | NAHI has similar requirements.Tip #4: You get what |
| research some more. Find out as much as you can | | | | you pay for. Price should be at the bottom of your |
| about the inspector you want to hire. Call them up | | | | list of priorities when shopping for an inspector. A |
| and speak with them over the phone. Are they easy | | | | good, thorough and knowledgeable inspector will save |
| to talk to? Are they knowledgeable about homes? | | | | you money while a poor inspector will cost you many |
| Will he/she email you a sample report? Is the report | | | | times their fee. You may need that $100 bucks you |
| easy to read and understand?You may also want to | | | | saved to try and repair that $10,000 roof your |
| ask your friends and coworkers for referrals. | | | | inspector failed to warn you about.Let's take a 2000 |
| However, never take their recommendations blindly. | | | | square foot home. A top of the line inspector who |
| The majority of people have no idea if they received | | | | knows what he's doing will cost you approximately |
| a good inspection or not. They just know they like | | | | $350 to $600 for this size home, depending on a few |
| the inspector and he pointed some things out. | | | | variables. You have to ask yourself, if the inspector I |
| Research, research, research!Tip #2: Never hire an | | | | choose charges less, why? What will be missed or |
| Inspector solely on the recommendation of your Real | | | | left out of the inspection?On the other hand, a good |
| Estate Agent. While you may think that your agent | | | | inspector will find things others will miss. You may |
| hung the moon, they could be pushing you to use a | | | | want to go back to the Seller and renegotiate the |
| "wink and nod" inspector, or as we in the business | | | | price of the home. I've seen Sellers drop their price |
| call them, "Drive by Inspectors." They grab your | | | | $30,000 because of the items we found wrong with |
| check as the drive by the home their suppose to be | | | | homes. I've also saved my Clients countless |
| inspecting. These types of inspectors "don't rock the | | | | thousands of dollars by brining major defects to their |
| boat" or are not "deal killers".These inspectors get | | | | attention before they signed on the dotted line.Tip |
| their business from agents who control them. The | | | | #5: Check with you state to see if they require |
| agent knows the inspector will see to it that the | | | | home inspectors to be licensed. More and more |
| inspection doesn't derail the transaction. Even if your | | | | states are requiring home inspectors to be licensed. |
| agent recommends 2,3 or more inspectors, it's wiser | | | | Even in these states, there are some inspectors who |
| to avoid the conflict of interest and find an inspector | | | | can't meet the standards and will be performing illegal |
| who works for you and you only.Tip #3: Why the | | | | inspections. Check them out before hiring |
| word "Certified" may not be a good thing. Listen up. | | | | them.Choosing the right Home Inspector is a very |
| You can become a "Certified" home inspector by | | | | important process when buying a home. Don't leave it |
| sending a hundred dollars or so to one of many | | | | to chance. Do your homework and you'll be money |
| home inspection associations. No experience required. | | | | ahead.This article may be freely distributed as long as |
| Just send them the money and they send you a | | | | this sig/resource box is left intact with the |
| "Certified" certificate.Sure, it's good that your | | | | article.Donald Lawson is a Professional Real Estate |
| inspector should belong to some state and national | | | | Inspector licensed in Oklahoma (#454) and Texas |
| home inspector associations. Most professionals in | | | | (#5824). He currently owns and operates V.I.P. Home |
| any business belong to industry associations in their | | | | Inspections, a multi inspector firm in Houston Texas. |
| field. Home inspectors are no different. However, | | | | |