Reasons to Have Your Home Inspected

You bought your start-up home and have been living in it for a while now; it is everything you wanted to start your family, so you kept the yard nice, the lawn mowed, and the garbage picked up. You also cleaned the inside, organized and decorated it. However, now it’s time to move on and find a new home. However, before you sign on the dotted line; a home inspection should be a top priority.

Why Use a Home Inspector?

Dangers are lurking everywhere, but your home shouldn’t be one of those places your family needs to be concerned for their well-being, and yet, many homes have trouble spots even before the owners move in, or well after. A comprehensive home evaluation or home inspection can alleviate unseen problems that can creep up years later, plaguing you with a financial burden that could have been prevented by having the home inspected. In addition, if you choose to sell your home in the future, having the home inspected is insurance for the new family moving in, and will go further in helping you sell the house.

What Does a Home Inspector Do?

A trained home inspector’s job is to examine the home, both inside and out, with a complete physical examination of the property, including major systems and components. He/she then gives you an unbiased opinion about the current condition, including any water, structural or other damage that needs fixing, as well as any potential safety hazards, or any other issues that may require specialized inspection. A very comprehensive process requires a well-trained inspector, who may point out problems that may seem mundane to you, but that could end up costing money, time, and even your health.

How to Choose a Reputable Home Inspector

Just like any other profession, there are many professional home inspectors, probably some just a few minutes from your home, but how do you choose one that is sure to guarantee you a thorough inspection and not rip you off in the process? Here is a checklist of things you need to watch out for when choosing a reputable home inspector:

Training—the inspector should be properly trained in all facets of home inspection and be up to date with all regulatory changes, including residential construction, techniques and systems.
Certifiable—the inspector should be a certified by a reputable training institute and should be tested annually as set forth by the National Institute of Building Inspectors.
Insurance—the inspector must have insurance, including, but not limited to E & O insurance—Errors & Omissions, as well as general liability and worker’s compensation insurance. If the home inspector doesn’t have any of these insurances, it is a strong indicator that the inspector has had no formal training, or has a poor track record in the industry. For more information, visit the National Institute of Building Inspectors
Inspection Report—request a detailed, comprehensive written findings report, so you get a good idea of the depth and scope of the report you will receive, which will help you understand the findings.
Just an inspector—the home inspector should only inspect homes. Don’t choose an inspector who is also a contractor, thinking you will save money or the hassle of finding an inspector. This is a conflict of interest, and most likely, the contractor will want to repair problems that he found, or in some cases, create problems that he can fix, which of course, will cost you more money in the long -run.
Membership in associations—find someone that is associated with or backed by professional associations that you can verify, and find out what the requirements are for membership and certification. Having these credentials will ensure you get well-trained home inspector.
References and reputation—get the names and numbers of at least a few recent customers that you can call and ask how satisfied they were with the home inspector. Find out if any problems surfaced or were overlooked after the inspection. Also, check with the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints had been filed against the company that the inspector works for.
You get what you pay for—this is usually not the time to go with the cheapest home inspector out there. When it comes to something as important as the condition of your home, or the home in which you are about to buy, you want the best. Saving some money on an inspection is not worth the risk of overlooked repairs that could end up costing you a small fortune in the future.

What should be in the Home Inspection Report?

According to the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors, there are key things that should be included in your home inspection report:

Structural Elements—including construction of walls, ceilings, floors, roof and foundation
Exterior Evaluation—wall covering, landscaping, grading, elevation, drainage, driveways, fences, windows, domes, sidewalks, fascia, lights and exterior receptacles
Roof and Attic—framing, ventilation, type of roof construction, flashing and gutters
Plumbing—identification of pipe materials used for portable, drain, waste and vent pipes, including condition. Toilets, showers, sinks, faucets and traps. It does not include a sewer inspection.
Electrical—main panel, circuit breakers, types of wiring, grounding, exhaust fans, receptacles, ceiling fans and light fixtures
Appliances—dishwasher, range and oven, built-in microwaves, garbage disposal and smoke detectors
Garage—slab, walls, ceiling, vents, entry, firewall, garage door, openers, lights, receptacles, exterior, windows and roof
Systems and Components—water heaters, furnaces, air conditioning, duct work, chimney, fireplace and sprinklers

Other detailed things not in the report usually require a specialized inspection. They include testing of asbestos, radon, methane, radiation, formaldehyde, wood-destroying organisms, mold, mildew or fungi, rodents and lead. If you suspect problems with these hazardous chemicals, you can obtain a testing kit or call the Environmental Protection Agency.

Once you have made the decision to hire a home inspector and have any problems cleared up, congratulations, you can be rest assured that you’re getting the home you want, inside and out.