| Buying a new house? If you are like most people, | | | | iNACHI (International Association of Certified Home |
| this is probably the largest investment you will ever | | | | Inspectors), and OAHI (Ontario Association of Home |
| make. Most likely, one of the conditions of sale will be | | | | Inspectors) in Ontario. All these associations require a |
| that you have a home inspection performed, usually | | | | high level of training and continuing education to |
| within a few days, and are satisfied with the results. | | | | maintain their membership. Third, make your you can |
| An analysis of the property, conducted by a specially | | | | attend the inspection and ask questions. This is really |
| trained and completely objective home inspector, can | | | | the best way for you to learn all about the home's |
| identify non-functioning systems, damaged building | | | | systems and maintenance requirements. And fourth, |
| components, safety issues and poor-quality | | | | find your own home inspector! |
| installations. But how do you find a good, objective | | | | The "Deal-Breaker" |
| home inspector? | | | | When you sign an Agreement To Purchase, one of |
| Finding A Good Home Inspector | | | | the conditions usually includes having a home |
| Most people don't know where to start looking and | | | | inspection performed to your satisfaction to ensure |
| simply ask their real estate agent to recommend | | | | there is nothing wrong with the home that may have |
| someone. Though this approach is certainly easiest, it | | | | gone unnoticed during your initial visit. Your real |
| may not provide the best inspector for you. Many | | | | estate agent will want you to do a home inspection |
| home buyers look in the phone book for an | | | | for your own protection, but mostly because it |
| inspector. Or do a search on the Internet. Or ask | | | | reduces their liability and satisfies their requirement |
| their friends and family for the name of an inspector | | | | for full disclosure. If you think about it for a minute, |
| they have used in the past. Which one is best? | | | | at this point, the real estate agent does not want to |
| Chances are you will not get to meet the person you | | | | lose the sale and will not recommend any inspector |
| hire before he or she shows up to inspect the house | | | | that could jeopardize his or her commission. |
| you are buying. Before this, your first contact will be | | | | In real-estate circles there are inspectors that are |
| on the phone. Here is your chance to ask questions | | | | known as "deal-breakers". These are inspectors that |
| and see if he or she is a good fit for you. Most | | | | are known to be very thorough and objective when |
| people's main concern here is price. How much do | | | | examining a home. These inspectors don't go easy on |
| you charge for a home inspection? Let me say, if | | | | a home. They are working for you, and only you, not |
| you want a thorough inspection done on the | | | | the real-estate agent or the seller. This is the |
| property expect to pay at least $250.00, and maybe | | | | inspector you want to get. Unfortunately, you will |
| up to $600.00 or more, depending on where you live. | | | | never get a referral from a real estate agent for a |
| If you pay anything less than this, plan to be | | | | "deal-breaker". |
| disappointed. | | | | Find Your Own Home Inspector |
| Many inspectors offer what they call a | | | | Your best bet for finding a good home inspector that |
| "walk-through" inspection. Though inexpensive, the | | | | will work for you, is to ask your friends and family |
| inspector is not going to go on the roof, or in the | | | | who they have used and recommend. Ask if the |
| attic or crawlspace. Unfortunately, these are the | | | | inspector they used uncovered any hidden problems |
| very places where major (read expensive) problems | | | | or saved them money. You don't want an inspector |
| are likely to occur. The inspection may be cheap, but | | | | that is recommended simply because he was easy |
| you're probably not going to find out anything about | | | | going or cheap. |
| the house you don't already know. | | | | Look on the Internet. If you live in Leamington, |
| Experience Or Education | | | | Ontario, do a search for something like "home |
| How long has the inspector been in business? Or | | | | inspector Leamington Ontario". I suggest you include |
| what experience does he or she have? The | | | | the province or else you end up with inspectors from |
| assumption here is that if the inspector has been in | | | | the USA or UK. Look at all you find and call a few. |
| business a long time or has more experience, he or | | | | The quality of the website more than likely speaks |
| she must be better than the other guy. While there | | | | to the quality of the home inspector. |
| is some validity to this, education is much more | | | | Look in the phone book. Here you will find inspectors |
| important. Someone may have been a roofer for | | | | that have been around for awhile or are part of a |
| years before becoming a home inspector. This | | | | franchise. Many of the best inspectors don't advertise |
| doesn't mean he knows anything about plumbing, or | | | | in the phone book as all their work comes from |
| electricity, or heating. We've all heard stories about | | | | word-of-mouth. Again, ask people you know. |
| horrible home inspectors. | | | | The bottom line is that you should find your own |
| Training through the local, community colleges in an | | | | home inspector. If your real estate agent discourages |
| accredited home inspection program is your first | | | | you from using your own inspector, or insists you |
| assurance that the inspector you are hiring is familiar | | | | use one of their "recommended" inspectors, then |
| with all aspects of a home. Second, make sure the | | | | that agent is not looking out for your best interests. |
| inspector is a member in good standing with either | | | | Remember, this may well be your home. Protect |
| ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors), | | | | your investment. Find your own home inspector. |