How To Choose A Good Home Inspector

1.     Get a Home Inspector With Lots Of Experience:

It takes a full time inspector at least 50 inspections to start to develop the eyes, ears and nose for hunting down problems. Part-time home inspectors simply don't have the time in the field to develop that radar.  Be sure to ask how many inspections the inspector conducts annually and how many years he/she has been doing them.  A quality full time home inspector conducts between 300 and 400 inspections annually - Part-Time inspectors conduct 50 to 100 inspections annually. Conducting 300-400 inspections each year requires extensive referrals, by prior clients, lenders, real estate agents and others -- so there is a much greater chance the inspector is very good at his trade!


2.  Education & Training:

Being a contractor is very different from being a Professional Home Inspector.  Home Inspectors are responsible for evaluating all of the systems and components of the home -- not just one aspect, like the brick or the framing.  To be able to provide a competent evaluation of all of these elements takes formal education and training.  Did the inspector attend one of the top home inspection schools? Or, did he complete a correspondence course, or worse have his brother-in-law, Bubba show him how to inspect?

Upon completion of the inspector's formal education did he complete a comprehensive training program where he completed 40 to 50 home inspections with a seasoned professional in the field?  Or did the inspector learn on the job at the Buyers expense?  If the inspector is a one-man operation, then who is checking the quality of the inspector's work? Engineering and technology in today's home is becoming more sophisticated all the time. Comprehensive continuing education and training is a must! Texas requires a minimum of 16 hours of continued education per year in order to renew a Home Inspectors License.


3.  Certifications:

While certifications are certainly important, it's the combination of Experience, Education and Training that make the difference in the competency of your next home inspector.  Certifications let the world know that the inspector can pass a test not that he can inspect a home properly. We all know people who are certified for one thing or another that we wouldn't hire under any circumstances. There is simply no substitute for experience and proper training.


4.  The Inspection Report:

The top home inspectors in today's business don't produce handwritten reports.  A professional inspector will provide a combination checklist/narrative report. Technology has evolved where you should expect to receive a full-color report on site, with digital photographs of the issues discovered during the course of the inspection. 

The report should not contain repair costs or action plans for repairs.  Professional home inspectors inspect -- they don't repair! An inspector that makes repairs should always be avoided due to the conflict of interest inherent in that situation.

Ask for a sample of an inspection report so you'll know what you can expect for your time and money.  After all, you are the client!


5.  How Long Has The Inspection Company Been In Business:

Is the inspection company locally owned and operated or are they some far away faceless corporation where no one is monitoring and evaluating the quality of their work? If you are dealing with a multi-inspector firm, how long has the inspection company been in business?  Does the inspection company have dedicated employees serving as customer service representatives to schedule appointments and provide any needed follow up assistance?


6. Ask To See What Other Home Buyers Have Said About The Inspector:

Quality Professional Home Inspectors ask their client's to complete comment cards upon completion of the inspection.  Professional Inspectors want to know what they are doing right, as well as what might need improvement.  If the inspector can't or won't provide client referrals, he might be blind in more ways than one!


7.  Does the Home Inspector You have Chosen Have an Up To Date Web Site:

A web site that is not current may show that the company is not interested in providing up to date information to their clients and the interested public.  Also a website with old information is like a doctors office waiting room with old magazines-Boring!


As an added value, ask the Home Inspector if they are licensed to perform Wood Destroying Insects inspections. (WDI-Termite Inspections):

Most Lenders require WDIs on loans so ask the Home Inspector you have chosen if they are qualified to perform this service for you.  When you have an inspector that is not dual licensed you will have to hire a second party for the WDI-this means an upcharge on the fee. 

Realty Inspection Service is Locally Owned and Operated since 1991.  We have over 29,000 satisfied clients in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area. www.realtyinspectionsdfw.com