Charles Munn
From Your President of The Pee Dee REALTOR ® Association
A Home Inspector Is Your Protector
An inspector helps you make sure a house isn ’ t hiding anything before you commit for the long haul . ( Think about it this way : You wouldn ’ t even get coffee with a stranger without checking out their history .)
A home inspector identifies any reasonably discoverable problems with the house ( a leaky roof , faulty plumbing , etc .). Hiring an inspector is you doing your due diligence . To find a good one ( more on how to do that soon ), it helps to understand what the typical home inspection entails .
An inspection is all about lists .
Before an inspection , the home inspector will review the seller ’ s property disclosure statement . ( Each state has its own requirements for what sellers must disclose on these forms ; some have stronger requirements than others .) The statement lists any flaws the seller is aware of that could negatively affect the home ’ s value .
The disclosure comes in the form of an outline , covering such issues as :
• Mold
• Pest infestation
• Roof leaks
• Foundation damage
• Other problems , depending on what your state mandates . During the inspection , an inspector has three tasks : 1 . Identify problems with the house that they can see 2 . Suggest fixes 3 . Prepare a written report , usually with photos , noting observed defects
4 . This report is critical to you and your agent — it ’ s what you ’ ll use to request repairs from the seller .
It ’ s Your Job To Check The Inspector
Now you ’ re ready to connect with someone who ’ s a pro at doing all of the above . Here ’ s where — once again — your real estate agent has your back . They can recommend reputable home inspectors to you .
In addition to getting recommendations ( friends and relatives are handy for those , too ), you can look for professional inspectors at their trade association websites . The American Society of Home Inspectors ’ ( ASHI ) Find a Home Inspector tool lets you search by address , metro area , or neighborhood . You can also search for inspectors by state at InterNACHI .
You ’ ll want to interview at least three inspectors before deciding whom to hire . During each chat , ask questions such as :
• Are you licensed or certified ? Inspector certifications vary , based on where you live . Not every state requires home inspectors to be licensed , and licenses can indicate different degrees of expertise . ASHI lists each state ’ s requirements here .
• How long have you been in the business ? Look for someone with at least five years of experience — it indicates more homes inspected .
• How much do you charge ? Home inspection costs range from $ 300 to $ 500 , although pricing may vary regionally beyond this range . The costs depend on the size of your house as well as market conditions , demand , and supply .
• What do you check , exactly ? Know what you ’ re getting for your money .
• What don ’ t you check , specifically ? Some home inspectors are more thorough than others .
• How soon after the inspection will I receive my report ? Home inspection contingencies require you to complete the inspection within a certain period of time after the offer is accepted — normally five to seven days — so you ’ re on a set timetable . A good home inspector will provide you with the report within 24 hours after the inspection .
• May I see a sample report ? This will help you gauge how detailed the inspector is and how they explain problems .
10 - REAL ESTATE WEEKLY www . peedeerealestateweekly . com Equal Housing Opportunity