You found the house you want to buy. It may not be your forever home, but it’s your for today home. We’ve most likely already talked about the value of a home inspection, and the importance of selecting someone who, well… knows their job. So, my “go-to-guy”, Kory Mac Donald from Mike Holmes Inspections, graciously put together a list of things you’ll want to consider if a home inspection is a condition of your purchase, and you’re interviewing for the job.
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- Ask the inspector to talk to you about their experience on the job. You’ll want to consider their past experience; have they been doing this job for a long time or are they new? Either one is ok, but you need to know before going into the home inspection if you’re working with someone who’s “seen it all” or someone who has a fresh set of eyes.
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- These days everyone has letters after their name. I strongly suggest working with someone who is certified. They’ve taken the time to legitimize their business and ensure their knowledge is top notch; why not work with someone who cares that much and will put that same care into the home you’re about to live in?
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- Sure early education is important, but so is continuous education. It’s human nature to become “stagnant” in the job we’ve been doing for what feels like forever. It’s also human nature to recognize stagnancy and therefore want a greater knowledge base. Ask your home inspector about additional training they’ve taken or what associations they’re affiliated with. Working with someone who recognizes the importance of continued education, and cares enough to put effort into continued education… sounds to me like a winning partnership.
Selecting your home inspector is one thing; understanding the benefits of what they do is another. Take a look at some work they’ll do on your behalf, some of which you might not have considered.
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- There’s lots of areas we wouldn’t have looked at when we first walked through the house. Areas such as under or behind the stove, the attic, a crawlspace, utility room, or maybe it’s the dream garage you’ve been craving. Your home inspector is going to review the areas you maybe don’t want to. They’re going to get dirty, they’re going to see things we can’t and because of this, we’re going to make educated decisions on how to proceed with the purchase of your home.
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- They’ll see the things you can’t see. Things like mold, moisture, air quality – we’re not going to notice these when we walk through, but they surely will. They have the tools and the keen eye to spot imperfections not easily seen by the untrained eye. You’ll want this information, you’ll need to know what you’re walking into, or better yet, what you’re about to live in.
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- Did you know that recalls happen all the time, but you might not know about them. A home inspector will take the time to review recalls and/or safety notices on appliances, HVAC, a gas fireplace etc. Their expertise in understanding the lingo that goes into these recalls, and what it means to you is so valuable. It provides you an opportunity to address recalls prior to closing, and prior to you moving in.
