When most of us purchase a home, we hire a home inspector to make sure the home is in decent shape. We want to have an idea what awaits us before we move in.
When you hire a home inspector there are several questions to ask that will help you pick a good inspector, as well as assist you in making the right decision on which home to purchase.
Here are some questions.
What do you check?
Many home buyers do not have any idea what home inspectors do. I mean we know they are supposed to check out the home. The question is what in the home do they check.
You should have a clear understanding of what will be covered before the inspection.
What don’t you check?
Of course, an inspector can only check what they can visually see. So many times the inspection report will highlight potential problems in the report and you will have to get another expert to come back and do a more detailed examination. You should have an idea what is not included as well.
How long have you been doing this?’
Or perhaps more important: How many inspections have you done? A newer inspector doesn’t necessarily mean lower quality, but experience can mean a lot—especially if you’re considering an older home or something with unusual features.
Can I come along during the inspection?
The answer to this should be a resounding yes! Any good inspector will want prospective owners to be present at the inspection.
If an inspector requests that you not join them, I suggest you definitely run away!
How long will the inspection take?
This will help you plan out your day, so you can be there for the entire inspections or for a good part of it.
During the home inspection you might want to ask a few questions.
Understand the more questions you ask the longer the inspection will take. Most inspectors should stop a couple times during the inspection and give you some idea of what they are finding.
Walk around the home, and if you see anything that gives you concerns don’t hesitate to point them out to the inspector.
If you see a crack on the wall, ask your inspector what they think is the cause of the damage.
Your inspector might ask you if there’s anything you’re specifically concerned about before they start the inspection. Make sure to tell him if this is your first real estate purchase, or if you’re worried about the house’s age, or anything at all that strikes you, the buyer, as a possible negative.
A good question to ask your inspector is what are your biggest concerns about this property?’
At the end of the inspection, the inspector should give you, in broad strokes, a summary of what he found. You will get a written report later, but this is a great moment to get clarity on what the inspector thinks are the house’s biggest issues, and whether or not they require further investigation.
Your official home inspection report will have more detail, but you should know what is on it by the time you leave the home that day.
R. Jones
