In the largely unregulated home inspection industry, not all inspectors are created equally. You’ve worked to find the right home, and now the next most important step is to find an inspector you can trust. This is a vital step in the home buying process, a step you should not take lightly. Here are some key questions to ask as you interview potential inspectors:

1)      What does your general inspection include? This may seem self-explanatory, but every inspector has their own approach, and not all approaches are created equal. Will the roof be inspected? How will the home’s electrical system be evaluated? When will I receive my report? A good inspector will take the time to answer ALL of your questions and should explain exactly what you will receive for your fee.

2)      Can I tag along during the inspection? I encourage my clients to follow along during my inspections. This not only gives us the opportunity to discuss items which will be in included in the written report, but it also allows us to discuss general home maintenance practices. Most importantly, it allows you to ask questions and learn to about the home.

3)      How much do you charge? To most potential clients, this is probably the first question that comes to mind, and for good reason. Just like any service, there can be a wide range of fees. What should be stressed is finding the inspector whose fee matches the quality of the services provided. Hiring the right inspector will provide you with more than enough value by identifying costly repair items and helping you to avoid making a poor investment.

 4)      What are your qualifications and experience? Although state licensing is on the horizon, the home inspection industry is still largely unregulated. You should select an inspector who is a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) and has also passed the National Home Inspector Exam.

5)      How long will the inspection take? Although your time is important, be wary of an inspection who tells you the inspection will take less than 2 hours. Unfortunately, some inspectors care more about the number of inspections they can complete per day than doing their best inspection. While this may be great for their bottom line, it’s a disservice to their client. I personally never do more than 2 inspections per day so I can be assured of providing a thorough inspection for each client.

If you’d like to schedule an inspection, contact Green Leaf Inspector, Eric Swiatek at (330) 687-4284 or book through our form.

Green Leaf Inspector, Eric Swiatek