Ready to choose a home inspector before you finalize a house purchase? Ultimately, there are many key questions you'll want to ask your home inspector to ensure he or she has what it takes to assess a house, including:
1. What are your qualifications?
Choosing a home inspector who understands the ins and outs of reviewing a property is paramount. Thus, you'll want to evaluate a candidate's credentials closely to guarantee he or she knows how to inspect all aspects of a residence.
Find out about a home inspector's skills and background. By doing so, you can understand how this professional has approached home inspections in the past.
Also, retrieve copies of a home inspector's past house evaluations and find out if he or she is a member of national or state home inspector associations. Evaluating a home inspector's past reports will provide you with an example of what to expect from this professional during your home assessment. Meanwhile, a home inspector who is a member of a national or state home inspector association likely possesses training and certifications that may help him or her stand out from other home inspectors in your area.
2. Can you provide references?
Were past clients satisfied or dissatisfied with a home inspector? Ask a home inspector to provide references, and you'll be able to learn about past clients' experiences in no time at all.
Don't forget to check out client reviews on Yelp, Angie's List and other professional review websites too. This will enable you to better understand if a particular home inspector is the right professional to assess your residence.
3. Do you possess errors and omissions insurance?
In some instances, a home inspector may make mistakes during a house assessment that he or she probably should have noticed. If a home inspector possesses errors and omissions insurance, however, you may be protected in this scenario.
Errors and omissions insurance offers professional liability coverage for home inspectors. This means a home inspector who holds errors and omissions insurance will be able to cover the costs associated with an error that you feel he or she should have caught during a house inspection.
Be on the lookout for a home inspector who will require you to sign a waiver limiting his or her liability as well. If a home inspector requires a waiver, you may be held responsible for any home problems that this professional misses during a house assessment.
Searching for a home inspector can be tricky, especially if you're trying to navigate a complex homebuying process. But if you spend some time reviewing a broad array of home inspectors, you should have no trouble finding a home inspector who can meet or exceed your expectations.
Don't forget to rely on your real estate agent for support as you search for a qualified home inspector. Your real estate agent may be able to recommend home inspectors in your area and help take the guesswork out of discovering the ideal home inspector so you can finalize your house purchase.
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