Is your doctor a member of the American Medical Association? No they don’t need to belong, but most do. Does that make them all good doctors, in a word, no. How many homebuilders belong to NAHB (National Home Builders Assoc.)? Are all the ones that do good homebuilders, bad homebuilders?
I guess you see where I’m going with this. Not all home inspectors belong to national associations, surprised? I do, but that in itself doesn’t make me a good inspector. What does make a home inspector a good inspector, not the association they belong to or the number of tools they have. Just because the inspector you are researching is licensed in your state doesn’t mean he is the inspector for you either. (Oh, by the way, I’m not going to name the national associations because I don’t want to slight any of them.)
Does your inspector have a track record? In other words will yours be his or her first inspection?
Can you talk to your inspector? If he is constantly spouting codes that mean almost nothing to you then your going to have a tough time communicating with him, and he with you.
Does he seem genuinely concerned for your safety and finances? This is what the inspection is all about. Your inspector is suppose to safe guard you family and you finances. He is there to make sure your home is safe and not the proverbial “Money Pit”.
Does he have the education to perform his job? Look for a resume of sorts, was he flipping burgers or parking cars last week. Has he built a home, has he worked for someone that has built a home, does he know what a home looks like? If he belongs to Active Rain look at his profile, do some research. Your dream of owning a home is effected by this person, don’t slight yourself.
I want you to be able to understand, communicate, and trust your home inspector. If it is possible to meet with them prior to the inspection to hold a short interview do so, maybe at your realtors office.
Don’t choose your home inspector because:
They had a winning smile.
They were the cheapest of all the others.
They belonged to the National Organization of Part Time and Part Educated Home Inspectors, or any other organization.
They had an opening that day.
Nice truck or car.
They had a good looking dog as their avatar.
Jack Gilleland
Clayton, Ohio
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