If you’re just buying a new home finding a good home inspector is a big part of the home buying process. So how do you find one if you are new to a certain area?
Here are 5 tips for finding a qualified home inspector in your area:
- The first thing you want to do is check the local Better Business Bureau to see if they’ve had any complaints filed against them. If someone has had serious complaints against the home inspector, they’ve probably gone to the BBB with them.
- Next, check another resource called AngiesList.com. Using AngiesList, you can search your area for “home inspectors” to see if there are any with good reviews.
- Contact your states licensing board, and ask if the inspector is active and up-to-date. Also, “ask if there are any complaints against the inspector you might have in mind.
- Check out websites by searching your local area in Google. On the website, see how long they’ve been in business and if they have any testimonials on it.
- Ask some who has been in the real estate business for a long time- preferably an investor who has no involvement with your real estate purchase decision.
Question the home inspector to find have out what qualifications they have. The best way to ask these questions is to remind yourself that you are hiring them, so that puts you in the ‘need to know’ seat. What they know about home inspecting, you need to know.
The next thing you will want to discover in the home inspector you are considering, is what exactly he will inspect. The property should have major items inspected like the roof, the heating and air conditioning, the pool if there is one, the electrical system and various other parts of the home. Do they have a check list they use? If so, you should ask to see it when they are finished.
When you are hiring a house inspector avoid being afraid to ask for numbers of others they have worked for in the Knoxville area. All employers do this and you are in the role of employer. Check with others they have inspected homes for and see if they were satisfied with the inspection.
Does the inspector have any kind of certification or belong to a group for his profession? There are many who do not however; if you discover one that does, you can be certain they have probably been through a more rigorous training than those who do not.
The very last thing you will want to ask about is the insurance carried through the company employing the home inspector. If the home inspector you hire misses something that should have been checked and there is something that goes terribly wrong after moving in, are they going to take the responsibility for the incomplete inspection? This is a extremely important aspect of the inspection process.