5 Red Flags to avoid when hiring a Home Inspector

One of the more important steps in the home-buying process is a home inspection.  It enables you to assess the condition of a property and identify what needs to be fixed or repaired.  However, the quality of a home inspection performed depends on the person who’s conducting it.  This is why it’s crucial to choose the right individual for the job.  Here are 5 red flags to avoid when hiring a home inspector:

• NO certification from a professional organization – although home inspectors aren’t required to have any specific certifications, we recommend that they be certified by an industry-recognized organization such as NACHI, the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors.  This certification proves that the individual has undergone rigorous education and training.  Furthermore, it shows that they meet the highest standards of their profession.

• NO experience with your type of property – there are a number of different property types out there from apartment complexes to single-family homes.  Make sure that the inspector you’ve chosen is experienced with the type of property you own.  That way, you’ll be confident that he or she knows what to look for as well as those issues to look out for.

• NO liability insurance – the best home inspectors have liability insurance coverage to protect themselves and the home buyer.  Liability insurance covers any damages that occur due to negligence or during the inspection.  If the home inspector you’ve chosen doesn’t have this insurance coverage, move on and find one who does.

• NOT enough details listed on the inspection report – once the inspection is finished, the inspector must provide you with a comprehensive, detailed report of their findings.  So when you receive yours, make sure it provides sufficient details so you can make a well-informed decision about the property.  If the report appears to be lacking in details, this could mean that the inspector did sloppy work or missed some critical details.  If so, find an inspector who will provide a more detailed report.

• NOT enough time spent conducting the inspection – a thorough home inspection should take a minimum of 2 hours, even for smaller properties.  Inspections that take less than 2 hours likely means that the person rushed through it and wasn’t thorough enough.  This could result in having to do unforeseen repairs in the future.

Prospective home buyers should watch out for these red flags when choosing the right home inspector for the job.  To learn more, call Florida Inspections Unlimited today at 954-861-0666. We are here to take your calls and will provide you with the information you are seeking about home inspection services. Call now.