Premier Inspection & Consulting Blog Volume 2
Hello again!
Over my next few blog posts, I am going to give you an overview of how to choose an inspector and what to expect from your home inspection prior to purchasing your new home. Who you select for your inspector is important. You will have recommendations from friends, banks, or Realtors. Referrals are great but do some homework. Check the inspector’s website for more information and check their Google reviews. When I am using a review to decide what to purchase or who to hire I usually throw out the highest and lowest couple of reviews and see what the rest of the reviews say about their experience. You can also investigate what types of trade groups the inspector may belong to. Many of the associations such as ASHI or Inter-Nachi require continuing education to be members. In Wisconsin home inspectors are required to be licensed and are also required to complete continuing education. Make sure your inspector has a proper license that is current.
There are inspectors that have a current license, but do not have related experience. Until recently, the only requirement to have a home inspector license in Wisconsin was to pass two tests. If you were good at taking a test, you could get a license. Inspecting is more than a license. Good inspectors have “real world” experience. For example, a home inspector with a background in the trades may be a better choice than someone who has a license and a background in accounting. You may also want to ask whether the inspector has Errors and Omissions and liability insurance. Insurance for inspectors is expensive but is also important.
With all this in mind, some people go “shopping” for the best inspection price. There is seldom more than $100 difference between inspectors. If you are spending a few hundred thousand dollars or more on your house do you really want to go price shopping? Use the information above to select your inspector. Obviously check the price before signing the inspection agreement but please don’t let the cost of the inspection be the deciding factor.
Thanks for reading and we’ll see you next time to start talking about the inspection process!
