By hiring a reputable home inspector, you’re protecting your investment. Most potential home buyers have their homes inspected before buying. The question is… who is the person doing the inspecting? We’ve all heard of those shady, so-called “home inspectors” that try to tell you about problems that aren’t really there just so they can offer to do the repairs for you. Or what about the ones that just don’t care and end up missing major issues with the house because they were in a rush to get out of there.
Orlando Realtors claim that the problem with the home inspection industry is that it’s not closely regulated and it’s seriously lacking in the quality control department. It’s important to ensure that the inspector you choose is licensed, insured, and experienced. Remember… this is someone you hired to help you decide if you’re going to commit to buying this home or not… which is one of the biggest financial commitments you’ll make in your lifetime.
To make sure you hired a true professional these are some tips on what to expect when you’re inspecting your inspector.
- Certification- Make sure that your home inspector went to a reputable school that requires annual re testing for all active licensees.
- Insurance- Your home inspector should be fully insured including liability, workers comp and E& O [errors and omissions] Insurance. If your inspector can’t provide you with proper proof of insurance, then it’s time to keep looking.
- Guarantee- A good home inspector will have no problem backing up his findings with a written guarantee.
- Conflict of Interest- It’s never a good idea to hire a home inspector that’s also a contractor. He could end up trying to make a career out of your house. First he’ll charge you to do the inspection, then he’ll want you to hire him to fix everything. Be sure to hire a home inspector that works as a home inspector full-time.
When you’re ready to hire a home inspector, ask your Orlando Realtor for a recommendation. Your agent should be able to provide you with at least 2 or 3 good ones.
