Questions for the Home Inspector

Some questions and consideration when choosing a Home Inspector

If the house has a wood stove or fire place and you are looking at insuring the property, can the home inspector give you a WETT certification for the wood stoves/fireplaces.

Does he have the communication skills to clearly explain how the building was constructed, and will you clearly understand the potential health or financial impact of any defect or issue. If you are buying a country property does he provide the well recovery and septic inspection also?

Do he perform repairs or just home inspections? Some homebuyers seek the advice of a general contractor rather than a home inspector. That may be a mistake, as they provide expertise from a different point of view. A home inspector is typically checking the roof or the appliances if they're included in the home and a general contractor is coming in from a repair standpoint and can quote for whatever repairs need to be done. In fact, providing both services could create a conflict of interest, because buyers can't always distinguish between necessary repairs and optional upgrades.

What does the inspection include? To compare inspectors, you need to know what the inspection includes (or doesn't include). Ideally, the inspection should be as thorough as possible.

Will he send you a sample inspection report? Asking to see a sample to make sure the information is presented in a clear and thorough format that's easy to understand.

Is he certified and licensed?

How much do he charge? Notice that price is the last question mentioned. That's because shopping on price alone may lead to cutting corners.