Was Your Last Home Inspector Blind?
Learn Seven Things You
Must-Know To Avoid Hiring The Wrong Home Inspector
1. Don't Take Chances With Your Home - Trust An Experienced Home Inspection Company To Give You Peace Of Mind.
Our company prioritizes providing exceptional quality and professionalism to every customer. That’s why we always recommend getting an inspection from our dedicated home inspector, who has a personal stake in ensuring your total satisfaction. Unlike employee inspectors, our team is fully invested in the business’s success and is committed to delivering the highest level of service.
Also, it takes a full-time inspector at least 100 inspections to develop the eyes, ears, and nose for hunting down problems. Part-time home inspectors don’t have the time in the field to develop that radar. Be sure to ask how many inspections the inspector conducts annually and how many years they have been doing them.
A quality full-time home inspector conducts between 200 and 400 inspections annually – blind inspectors conduct 50 to 100 reviews annually. Conducting 200-400 inspections in a year requires extensive referrals from prior clients, lenders, real estate agents, and others — so there is a greater chance the inspector is not blind! On the other hand, if the inspector does three inspections a day, he’s probably not spending the time needed to do a complete job. A thorough inspection is going to take around 3 to 3.5 hours. Anything less, and you’re just getting a drive-by inspection.
2. Education & Training:
Being a contractor is very different from being a Professional Home Inspector. Home inspectors are responsible for evaluating all of the systems and components of the home — not just one aspect, such as the brick or the framing. Providing a competent evaluation of these elements takes formal education and training.
Did the inspector attend one of the top home inspection schools, complete a correspondence course, or have his brother-in-law Bubba show him how to inspect? Comprehensive, continuing education and training is a must!
3. Certifications:
While certifications are certainly important, the combination of Experience, Education, and Training makes the difference in the competency of your next home inspector. Certifications let the world know that the inspector can pass a test, not that he can inspect a home properly. We all know people who are certified for one thing or another that we wouldn’t hire under any circumstances.
There is simply no substitute for experience and proper training.
4. Advanced Technology:
Buying a home is an extraordinary investment. So why would you want merely an ordinary inspection?
There is no reason to wonder if you’re getting the best inspection if the inspector uses cutting-edge technologies and the proper tools — such as a Laser Thermometer, handheld computer, Moisture Meter, Outlet Testers, etc.
– Newer technology such as these will uncover “hidden” signs of damage and potential problems that might otherwise go undetected in an “ordinary” inspection.
5. The Inspection Report:
The top home inspectors in today’s business don’t produce handwritten reports. A professional inspector will provide at least a 30+ page narrative report, not some little 10-15 pages you can’t read because he writes like your doctor.
It would be best if you wanted the report written in plain English, not some “Techno Jargon”- that only the home inspector can understand.
The report should contain repair cost estimates. Inspectors should NEVER make repairs or offer to make repairs later. An inspector that makes repairs should always be avoided due to the conflict of interest inherent in that situation. All national home inspection associations forbid this lack of integrity and objectivity.
Ask for a sample of an inspection report to know what you can expect for your time and money. After all, you are the client! Click Here to see a copy of our Sample Report.
6. How Long Has The Inspection Company Been In Business:
Is the inspection company locally owned and operated, or are they some far away faceless corporation” where no one is monitoring and evaluating the quality of their work? How long has the inspection company been in business if you are dealing with a multi-inspector firm? Does the inspection company have dedicated employees serving as customer service representatives to schedule appointments and provide any needed follow-up assistance?
7. Ask To See What Other Home Buyers Have Said About The Inspector:
Quality Professional Home Inspectors request feedback from their clients. Professional home inspectors understand that they need to measure their performance to improve their services. That’s why they seek to identify what they’re doing well and what areas may need improvement. If the inspector can not provide client referrals, they may be blind in more ways than one!
Chattanooga Home Inspector clients gladly provide feedback, and we are happy to share it with you. Take a look at what our clients are saying:
www.chattanoogahomeinspector.com/reviews
Your Chattanooga TN Premier Home Inspection Company
