Who's On Your Team?

Typically, buying a new home is the biggest investment of a person’s life. Many professional people play an important part in these transactions. Getting a professional to help find the house of your dreams and guide you through the entire process is an important step, but it does not stop there. Included are banks, title companies, surveyors, insurance companies and other risk management partners. Having the help of these professionals is important. It is also important to include a qualified/professional home inspector to this team.

Just twenty years ago, having a home inspection before closing was rare, but now over 80% of homebuyers are having a home inspection prior to closing. While this is an important step, it is equally important to choose the right home inspector.
Over the past twenty years the professionalism of inspectors and inspections has been on the rise. Although professionals in the business have been pushing for stricter regulations and state licensing requirements, it is still important to look for critical qualifications when choosing a home inspector.
To ensure a quality home inspection, a professional inspector should:
Be a member of a national organization that has established “Standards or Practice” and “Code of Ethics” for visual home inspections
Have attended an accredited Home Inspection Training Program
Receive Continuing Education Training annually
Have a resource for Technical support
Have General Liability Insurance
Have Errors and Omissions Insurance
Supply client with a Written Contract of the Home Inspection prior to the Home Inspection

These credentials are important --particularly the insurance requirements. Finding an Inspector that meets all of these requirements is important to ensure a quality inspection and piece of mind.

Investing wisely should begin and end with the use of professionals in the industry.