Before closing the deal on a real estate home for sale, staging a home inspection to know the home’s value and get acquainted with its shortcomings is de rigueur. But before contracting inspector du jour, make sure that he or she is indeed the real deal. Many states, New Mexico for instance, don’t have any requirement to being a home inspector. So to spare you from making the huge mistake of hiring a charlatan out to make easy money at your expense, follow these simple and easy tips.
1. State license is never enough; check for affiliations.
Every state in the country issues licenses for home inspectors after training. But it begs the question: how extensive is the training? The answer: not extensive enough. It’s even possible that the training is so minimal that it becomes absolutely ineffective when evaluating a /country/us/united-states.htm”>real estate home for sale.
Instead of checking for certifications or licenses, the inspector should be affiliated with a professional inspection organization. Sifting through the names and separating the ones with affiliations from the ones without can help remove the bad actors possibly moonlighting for a quick buck from buyers of real estate homes for sale.
Likewise, check the authenticity of the organization they’re in. Many shady affiliations are credited for the increasing difficulty of finding an authentic inspector. The rule of the thumb is to opt for legal groups, such as the American Society of Home Inspectors or the National Institute of Building Inspectors.
2. Interview and do your own research.
Once you get the seemingly right home inspector, it’s time to grill him further. Start by asking for résumés and posing important questions. Also, don’t forget to do your own research; and start by checking at the local licensing board. Once your get a hold of the inspector’s licensing or real-estate board, make sure you ask crucial questions about his activities – complaints included.
Next, the inspector should be ready for any questions you fire at him. If he’s truly a professional, answers should come effortlessly. Multiple signs of hesitation are red flags and you should probe further.
You should also remember to ask for a narrative report, and not some checklist of must-repairs and faulty items. You can ensure the inspector’s professionalism if he is able to furnish a good and explanatory report of his inspection.
Lastly, tag along when the real estate home for sale is going to be inspected. If the inspector is hesitant about your hanging out during inspection day, take this as a red flag.
Mark Michael Ferrer
Real Estate Homes for Sale