Buying a home is the largest purchase that most of us make in our lifetime. Knowing this, the buyer’s decision to hire a home inspector to evaluate the property is a very important step in the home-buying process. Since buying a home is not a common occurrence, most people don’t a home inspector in their list of contacts. I have put together some checklist items that home buyers and/or their real estate agent can use to find and select a qualified and reliable home inspector:
1. Price, although probably the first question you would ask when searching for a home inspector, shouldn’t necessarily be the only one. Price alone doesn’t give a complete picture. An inspector may give you a very low price, but their inspection and the report they deliver may be very brief. Each property is different, but a good starting point would be to expect that an inspection on a 2000-square-foot home will take about three and a half hours. Additionally, a good inspector will leave 30-45 minutes at the end of the inspection to review findings, point things out, and answer client questions. A reasonable inspection fee along with a corresponding time to complete the job is the best starting point when looking for an inspector.
2. Read reviews. This is probably something that most people are familiar and comfortable with. Reading Google reviews has become a very normal and comfortable part of our daily lives. Seeing how many 5-star reviews a company has can help you get a sense of its reputation and the quality of its work.
3. Research and ask for recommendations: Start by asking your real estate agent, friends, family, and colleagues for recommendations. You can also search for home inspectors online or through professional organizations like the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI). https://www.nachi.org/certified-inspectors/richard-katz-142573
4. Check qualifications and credentials: Minnesota does not have a licensing requirement for home inspectors, so knowing what national-level qualifications to check is handy. The benchmark certification is The National Home Inspectors Exam. This exam is the one that most states that have a licensing program require a candidate to have passed. The other is an InterNACHI certification. InterNACHI is a global organization that is accredited by the United States Department of Education as a postsecondary institution of higher learning.
5. Review sample reports: Ask for sample inspection reports to see what kind of information the inspector typically includes and how thorough they are in their evaluations. A good report should be detailed, easy to understand, and include pictures. Our sample report can be found on our website by following this link; https://www.katzfamilyhomeinspection.com/sample-inspection-report
6. Ask about experience and expertise: Find out how long the inspector has been in business and how many inspections they have completed. Also, ask if they have expertise in any particular areas, such as radon testing, sewer scopes, Indoor air quality (mold) testing, or chimney inspections. Having an inspector that covers multiple disciplines will help you maintain a tight timeline and will also reduce costs.
7. A follow-up to #6 is that your inspector should take a non-vested approach to conduct his or her inspection. As an example, an inspector that is performing sewer scopes, should not also offer to do the plumbing work that they have called out in their inspection report. It’s best in these situations that the person doing the evaluation is a neutral, third-party, professional who does not have anything other than the best interest of the buyer in mind.
8. Consider availability and scheduling: Make sure the inspector is available on your preferred inspection date and can accommodate any scheduling needs you may have.
I believe that Katz Family Home Inspection, LLC covers all of these checklist items. I would be honored to be a part of your home purchase; I know that you will not be disappointed.
Richard Katz Is the owner and InterNACHI Certified Home inspector at
Katz Family Home Inspection, LLC