Congratulations, you've found the perfect house to buy! Right about now, you are probably on information overload, and looking for resources to get everything ready. One of the most important steps you need to take after getting that ratified contract is to get the house inspected. Like most subjects on the internet, there is a ton of information about house inspections, and how to hire them. If you were hiring a home inspector Columbus GA to inspect a house for your out-of-state family member, what questions would you ask them?
What are your certifications? If you are in one of the many states where house inspectors are licensed, that is just a minimum level to be able to do the job. As a group, we will look for a house examiner that has taken the time to get extra certifications above and beyond the minimum. There are multiple house inspection organizations (both national and local) that offer certifications for examiners.
Full time inspector. First of all ask your house assessor if he is a full time assessor or a part time assessor. It is important to know that because this will help you to know how seriously he takes up his profession. For a Quality House Inspection you need a full time house assessor.
Many examiners offer what they call a "walk-through" inspection. Though inexpensive, the examiner is not going to go on the roof, or in the attic or crawlspace. Unfortunately, these are the very places where major (read expensive) problems are likely to occur. The inspection may be cheap, but you're probably not going to find out anything about the house you don't already know.
Sample inspection report. To find a good assessor you need to see the sample reports prepared by the assessor for other houses that he must have inspected. An efficient report has got between twenty and fifty pages with a clear highlight of the defects. If an assessor is showing you a report of less than 10 pages then you must take that as a sign that the assessor is not qualified.
What is your house inspection experience? You will find that house examiners come from many different backgrounds. Some may have been in the building trades, and some may be doing it as a second career. The important thing to look for is an examiner that has experience doing house inspections.
Hopefully the answer is only one or two. Most examiners will do a morning and an afternoon inspection. Some will add in an evening inspection. If it gets over three, start to worry about how long they are spending on your inspection. Most inspections will take 2-3 hours for an average size house.
What extra services can you provide? Michael Conrad II, at Diligent, in Nashville, TN points out that you should check with the examiner to see if they offer any other inspection services, such as Thermal Imaging, bug, and rodent examinations. This can help you in many ways, since not only do you get all of the inspections you need from one company, it allows your inspector to look at the whole house as a system and provide the best assessment of the house.
What are your certifications? If you are in one of the many states where house inspectors are licensed, that is just a minimum level to be able to do the job. As a group, we will look for a house examiner that has taken the time to get extra certifications above and beyond the minimum. There are multiple house inspection organizations (both national and local) that offer certifications for examiners.
Full time inspector. First of all ask your house assessor if he is a full time assessor or a part time assessor. It is important to know that because this will help you to know how seriously he takes up his profession. For a Quality House Inspection you need a full time house assessor.
Many examiners offer what they call a "walk-through" inspection. Though inexpensive, the examiner is not going to go on the roof, or in the attic or crawlspace. Unfortunately, these are the very places where major (read expensive) problems are likely to occur. The inspection may be cheap, but you're probably not going to find out anything about the house you don't already know.
Sample inspection report. To find a good assessor you need to see the sample reports prepared by the assessor for other houses that he must have inspected. An efficient report has got between twenty and fifty pages with a clear highlight of the defects. If an assessor is showing you a report of less than 10 pages then you must take that as a sign that the assessor is not qualified.
What is your house inspection experience? You will find that house examiners come from many different backgrounds. Some may have been in the building trades, and some may be doing it as a second career. The important thing to look for is an examiner that has experience doing house inspections.
Hopefully the answer is only one or two. Most examiners will do a morning and an afternoon inspection. Some will add in an evening inspection. If it gets over three, start to worry about how long they are spending on your inspection. Most inspections will take 2-3 hours for an average size house.
What extra services can you provide? Michael Conrad II, at Diligent, in Nashville, TN points out that you should check with the examiner to see if they offer any other inspection services, such as Thermal Imaging, bug, and rodent examinations. This can help you in many ways, since not only do you get all of the inspections you need from one company, it allows your inspector to look at the whole house as a system and provide the best assessment of the house.
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