Choosing the Right Home Inspector is Crucial

Having a home inspected prior to its purchase has become the norm over the past ten years. Real estate agents advise vendors to have the home inspected before they list it, and purchasers to get one done and have it as a condition of purchase when buying. But all home inspectors are not created equally, and it’s imperative for the person shopping for one to do their homework.

A home inspector typically charge from $200 - $500 and usually take about 3 hours for the average home. Make sure that they have some experience in residential homes, especially ones in the area that you looking to purchase or sell.

When I purchased my first home (15 years ago), I was referred to a home inspector by my real estate agent and used them prior to my purchase. He did a fair job, pointed out several areas that needed improvement, such as the roof and electrical. However, there was some things that he did not pick up on because the factors were not visible.

When I took possession of my home, I started renovating right away, basically replacing run-down existing areas. When I tore the carpet off the stairs, I was startled to see 3 of the stairs fall away straight down to the basement. The stairs were in such bad state that I had to replace them, costing me $3000. Also, after ripping down some walls, we found asbestos paper wrapped around the old duct work of the house.

Expect the unexpected and above all, go along during the entire inspection and ask questions – it’s your home! Make sure that they give you a detailed list at the end of the inspection outlining what they found, what was not found and recommendations for repairs. For more information check out Pillar To Post, a professional home inspection company.
Chris Paulsen cpaulsen@homerenovationguide.com