Choosing a Home Inspection Company

The home inspection is one of the most important steps to home ownership. Make sure you have included your right to have an inspection done prior to closing in your initial offer on the home. Usually the inspection will be done within the first 2 weeks of the contract being accepted. It is most often the buyer's responsibility to choose and pay for the home inspection company.

Choosing the right inspection company is a process that needs to be taken very seriously by the purchaser. Never just allow anyone to make this choice for you. While I am as a Real Estate Agent have several names of inspection companies that I am familiar with and trust, you would be advised to interview each and every one of them on your own before making a decision. Additionally you should look in the phone book or online for other companies not suggested by the agent. Questions to ask these companies may include:

  • What are your qualifications?
  • Do you have a current license? Inspectors are not required to be licensed in every state.
  • How many inspections of properties such as this do you do each year?
  • Do you have a list of past Clients I can contact?
  • Do you carry professional errors and omission insurance? May I have a copy of the policy?
  • Do you provide any guarantees of your work?
  • What specifically will the inspection cover?
  • What type of report will I receive after the inspection? The proper report will include pictures and detailed information.
  • How long will the inspection take and how long will it take to receive the report?
  • How much will the inspection cost? Price varies from $200 to $450 depending on property.

What Your Home Inspection Should Cover.

  • Foundations: Look for cracks or water seepage.
  • Exterior Brick: Look for cracked bricks or mortar pulling away from bricks.
  • Roof: Look for age, conditions of flashing, pooling water, buckled shingles, or loose gutters and downspouts.
  • Siding: Look for dents or buckling.
  • Insulation: Look for condition, adequate rating for climate.
  • Doors and Windows: Look for loose or tight fits, condition of locks, condition of weather protection, shutters.
  • Ceilings, walls, and moldings: Look for loose pieces, drywall that is pulling away
  • Pest Control: Look for termite damages, wasp nests, snake pits.
  • Porch/Deck: Loose railings or step, rot.
  • Plumbing: Look for poor water pressure, banging pipes, rust spots or corrosion that indicate leaks, sufficient insulation.
  • Water Heater: Look for age, size adequate for house, speed of recovery, energy rating.
  • Electrical: Look for condition of fuse box/circuit breakers, number of outlets in each room.
  • Air Conditioning: Look for age, energy rating. Some homes has furnaces. They are rated by annual fuel utilization efficiency; the higher the rating, the lower your fuel costs. However, other factors such as payback period and other operating costs, such as electricity to operate motors.
  • Garage: Look for exterior in good repair; condition of floor-cracks, stains, etc.; condition of door mechanism.
  • Attic: Look for proper ventilation, water leaks from roof.
  • Septic Tanks (if applicable): Neccessary absorption field capacity for the percolation rate in your area and the size of your family.
  • Driveways/Sidewalks: Look for cracks, heaving pavement, crumbling near edges, stains, termite damage.

More Useful Information

Contact Me