In Utah, all it takes to be a home inspector is to call yourself one.

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Quotes:

"And guess what, home inspectors need absolutely no qualifications whatsoever in Utah."

"...there is no state agency overseeing home inspectors in Utah.

And it appears anyone can declare themselves a home inspector: with no training, no license, and no experience."

If you are thinking about buying a home in the Salt Lake area, you will want to have your home inspected by a good home inspector. Begin as soon as possible to research various home inspection companies and the services they provide.

Some things to consider:

1. How much time will the inspector spend looking at the house?
2. What is the format of the inspection company's report?
3. What do they charge for the inspection and what do they charge for additional services?
4. What services does the home inspector not perform?

How much time will they spend looking at the house?
Most single family residential homes (5,000 sf or less) require at least 1.5 - 2 hours to evaluate thoroughly. If you home inspector tells you he needs a half hour to evaluate the home, hang up and keep calling.

What is the format of the report?
I bring this up because I have seen home inspection "Reports" that are 2 or three paragraphs long written on lined paper that say something along these lines: "The home is in typical condition for a home of its age in this area. Other homes of the same age in the same area are in about the same condition. " This is ridiculous.

Many "Certified" Home Inspectors ( NAACHI / ASHI, etc. ) have a standard form (or checklist) they use to evaluate the home. This is of more use to the client because you know that in order to fill out the report, they had to at least look at each of the areas they are required to mark or comment on. It is also beneficial because it gives the Buyer a list of items that they may want to address once they move into the home.

There may be (and usually are) some items that the Buyer will ask the Seller to repair prior to closing, but there are some other items that may not be undertaken by the Seller, which the Buyer will want to address soon after closing. A good, thorough report helps the Buyer remember all of those "little things".

What do they charge for the inspection and for additional services?
Fees vary for the base inspection (usually between $250-400) as do the fees for "add-on" evaluations such as radon monitoring, meth testing, lead based paint tests and other evaluations...

Make sure you ask what other tests and evaluations they can perform and what the cost of each is. Doing so can help you determine the total cost of the inspections.

What services does the home inspector not perform?
You may want to find out what items the home inspector does not evaluate or inspect. Many home inspectors will not evaluate a sprinkler system. Others will not fiddle with gas appliances they are unable to light. In some climates at certain times of the year, a furnace or air conditioning unit may not be tested because doing so could cause damage.

You want to find out what the home inspector does not cover so you can hire a professional to look at and assess those items.

If you are planning to buy a home in the Salt Lake City area, make sure you get an Agent on YOUR side of the transaction!

If you have excellent credit and will be buying a $250,000-$750,000 home in the next 30-60 days and would like an agent who will work exclusively for you, call us at (801) 969-8989 or contact us via the link on this page.

©2008 Homebuyer Representation, Inc.  "The Real Estate Agents on the Buyer's Side" ™ Exclusive Buyers Agents (EBA) - All Rights Reserved

Exclusive Buyer Brokerages do not list homes and never represent Sellers.  Their agents represent Buyers ONLY on the Buyer's side of the transaction. They work to get BUYERS the Best Price and Terms when they Buy...

©2008 Homebuyer Representation, Inc. - Salt Lake City, UT

Exclusive Buyers Agents (EBA) - All Rights Reserved

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