Terri Ramsey Beavers Introduction
When you’re buying a home, the inspection can be a stressful time. After all, it’s one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make. But picking the right new home inspector is just as important—and that can be even more stressful! There are so many different types of inspectors out there who do everything from basic inspections to detailed assessments of your new house’s systems and structure. There are also plenty of people who have never even seen your dream home before but want to charge you hundreds of dollars for an assessment they base on nothing more than their own opinions. So how do you choose? In this article, we’ll look at some essential questions to ask any potential inspector before booking them for work on your new property:
Do you have experience inspecting this type of home?
The first question you should ask your potential home inspector is whether or not they have experience inspecting the type of home you are buying. If you’re buying a new home, then it’s important that your inspector has experience inspecting new homes.
Similarly, if you’re purchasing an existing property (and not building one from scratch), then it’s equally vital that your inspector has inspected other existing properties before so they know what to look out for when evaluating your prospective purchase.
How long have you been an inspector?
This is a question that can be answered in various ways, depending on the type of inspection being performed. The length of time as an inspector depends on what kind of home is being inspected and how often it needs to be inspected. For example, a new home that has never been lived in before might only need one inspection (the final walk-through). On the other hand, if your house was built forty years ago and has since undergone several renovations and additions over time, then multiple inspections may be necessary depending on what kind of work was done during those renovations – for example electrical wiring or plumbing pipes could have been replaced with materials that weren’t up to code at the time; therefore these areas need further investigation before they’re deemed safe by city inspectors.
Do you belong to any professional organizations or associations?
If your inspector is a member of a professional organization, ask them what they get out of being part of the association. Do they attend conferences and workshops? Is there an online community where inspectors can share ideas and best practices? Are there benefits to you as a client (like discounts on services) or even better ones for the inspector (like continuing education)?
Inspectors who belong to these types of organizations are more likely to be up-to-date on industry standards and best practices–and that’s something you want in your home inspector!
How do you determine what type of inspection is needed for my home?
Before you hire a home inspector, it’s important to understand how they determine what type of inspection is needed for your home. The first step is determining how many years of experience the inspector has in the industry and what kind of homes he or she has inspected in the past. This will give you an idea of whether or not this person will be able to provide accurate information about your specific property.
The second step is looking at what type of home you are buying (single-family detached house vs multi-family apartment building), as well as what type of inspection (general vs termite). Different types require different levels of attention and expertise; therefore it’s important that your inspector know exactly what needs assessing before moving forward with any kind of report writing process so as not to waste any time doing unnecessary work during future inspections which could cause unnecessary costs down the line if there are issues found during those inspections because no one knew about them beforehand due lackadaisical preparation by either party involved here!
Conclusion
The most important thing is to make sure that you have a qualified and experienced home inspector. You don’t want to hire someone who doesn’t know what they are doing or who won’t take the time to look at all aspects of your new home. You also want someone who will explain things clearly so that there aren’t any surprises when it comes time for finalizing the sale on your property!