Home's come in different styles, sizes and age. When buying a home all of these things factor in for each individuals needs or wants. Often the condition of that dream home is unknown other than the obvious discrepancies that most people find on their own.

I remember the first home that I purchased in the early 80's. A nice brick three bedroom two bath home that, to me, was the greatest purchase that I could ever make. Within three years I had to replace the roof, The heating/AC and the drain line from the home to the main sewer. My dream home quickly become my money pit.

Many people even today refuse to hire a professional Home Inspector to evaluate their prospective purchase. I often hear comments such as my dad is an electrician or my uncle is a contractor. I will just get them to look at it for me. Would you hire a doctor to evaluate your automobile or a carpenter to look over your taxes? Although they may be proficient in their fields, are they familiar and trained to spot the numerous defects or potential problems which are often hidden from an untrained eye?

The home inspection profession has evolved over the years to become a very respected and relied upon service. Most states require licensing which follow strict guidelines as far as training prerequisites and continuing education yearly requirements. Gone are the days of Joe the plumber ( nothing against plumbers ) who decided to do home inspections on the side without any formal training.

When choosing a Home Inspector, several factors should be considered. Is the Inspector licensed and insured? How long has the Inspector been in business and how many inspections has he or she performed? All of these factors will help you determine the qualifications needed to provide you with the information to help you make an informed decision on purchasing  your new home.