INSPECTING PROPERTIES- Finding and Hiring a Home Inspector

You've finally found the property you want, negotiated a contract and struck a deal. Now it's time to have the property inspected.

An inspection will allow a qualified professional to take an objective look at the current condition of the property and prepare a report.

Why have the property inspected? You are about to engage in a significant financial transaction, an investment most likely. You want to make sure the merchandise is in good condition.

If you have made an offer on a property, you should have included a clause in the purchase agreement that allows you to void the offer if the inspection turns up a major problem. This is called an "inspection contingency" clause. You may find it necessary to submit a new offer based on the information received from the inspection.

Finding and Hiring a Home Inspector

Home Inspection services can be found in the Yellow Pages of your local phone book. Look under "Building Inspection Services," "Engineers-Inspection," or "Real Estate Inspectors."

The person you are looking for is a professional who knows old homes and new homes inside and out. One who crawls around the property looking for structural and equipment flaws, and who will give his customer a written report that will take some of the gamble out of buying the property.

Hire an independent home inspector who has no vested interest in the transaction and who is a member of a trade association, such as the American Society of Home Inspectors. These members have agreed to abide by a written code of ethics and prescribed standards of practice designed to protect prospective buyers.

You can receive a list of "ASHI" members in your area by writing to: ASHI, 1010 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Suite 630, Washington, D.C. 20007.

Finding and Hiring a Home Inspector - Selecting An Inspector

Check the reputation and experience of the firm you want to hire. Avoid part-time inspectors, ex-tradesmen, wannabes, or anyone not engaged full time in the business of inspecting properties. Verify that the firm's employees have adequate training and are certified by a nationally recognized training organization.

What They Do... and What They Don't Do

An inspector can save a future home owner a lot of grief and expense by identifying potential problems. Inspectors check the condition of the structural, electrical, and mechanical elements of a house. While they won't recommend whether or not you should buy the house, they can tell you about defects they find and the estimated cost of repairing or replacing the defect. Inspectors usually look for significant defects only.

Inspectors, unless contracted to do otherwise, do not routinely check for termites, asbestos or radon. They do not report on coldness of refrigerators, accuracy of oven temperatures, carpet stains or loose door knobs. An inspection may not include anything outside the house, such as pools, garages, sheds or water flow from an outside well. Inspectors are not required to check the adequacy of the heat supply to individual rooms, examine carpet or drapes, or even make sure that the roofing materials comply with local codes. They do not have to test every single door and window or electrical outlet in the house, only a representative sample.

A basic package may include inspection of the following: central heating systems; central cooling systems; interior plumbing systems and components; the roof's structural soundness; walls, ceilings and floors; foundations and basements; the operation of built in appliances.
Make sure the service you hire has adequate liability insurance. Especially important is Errors & Omissions Insurance. This insurance protects the inspector, and, indirectly, you, against any post-inspection legal problems.

Finding and Hiring a Home Inspector - The Inspection Report

Your goal is to obtain a written report detailing the condition of the structural and operational functions of the house.

The report should assess the quality of the following parts of the house: Grading, drainage, landscaping, fencing, paved areas, garage, exterior walls, doors, windows, porches, decks, roofing materials, chimneys, gutters, skylights, basements, crawl spaces, attics, construction, structural stability, water penetration, ventilation, insulation, plumbing systems pipes, drainage, faucets, water heater, water pressure, laundry appliances, traps, electrical system fuses, circuit breakers, wires, outlets, switches, heating and cooling systems, kitchen and Bathrooms fixtures, appliances, plumbing and flooring.

You may want to hire a specialist if you want a swimming pool, tennis court, well or septic system inspected.

The report may be presented as a set of worksheets, checklists covering the structure inspected, from roof to basement. Brief remarks may be added as necessary. The inspector may write a report regarding the overall condition of the property, along with suggested repairs or improvements.

The report should include information regarding current problems and those that may be pending. Whatever form the report takes, it should give you a realistic idea of what the condition of the house is.

Never accept a verbal report. You want a written record of the inspection.

Finding and Hiring a Home Inspector - The Contract

Shop around. Find out exactly what the inspector will evaluate. Find out what the fee is for the basic inspection and for additional services like radon testing, water testing, etc.

Ask how long the inspection will last. A good home inspection should take about three hours or more.

Be skeptical if the inspector does not want you to accompany him during the inspection. You can learn a lot by tagging along. Most likely he will go slower with you around.

Some of the larger home inspection services may offer "inspection warranties." These are usually good for one year. They can add credibility to the service's report. Ask to see the warranty before you pay for it. An inspection warranty can be useful if you are selling a home. It could be a comforting sales tool.