How to Select A Home Inspection Company
Selecting a home inspection company can be a daunting task, as you want to make sure you are choosing a reliable and honest service. Many different factors contribute to a quality home inspection company. Our VP of Business Development explains the best ways to choose a home inspection company in our Whitepaper guide. Let’s take a quick sneak peak into her best tips right here! Choosing a qualified home inspection company can help you select a home based on investment factors and not your emotions, leading to buying a home that may have a greater financial return in the long run.
State Certification & Compliance
Many states have home inspector legislation that requires specific training, continued education, and insurance for home inspectors and home inspection companies to comply with and keep current. Choosing a company or inspector that complies with these state rules will ensure your inspection will be of top quality. Some home inspectors let their continued education or particular certificates go unrenewed, creating gaps in their ability to provide clients with a qualified home inspection. Always look for companies that are labeled as ‘state certified.’
Training
Training is key in any professional service, and home inspection is no exception. Home inspection company employees are trained in many areas that are most likely unseeable to the untrained eye. If a home inspection company neglects to train their inspectors adequately, small details and even major issues can go unnoticed. You can request specific information from a home inspection company or inspector about proof of training; number of hours spent training, hands-on field training and ongoing education.
Insurance Coverage
During a home inspection, there is a small chance that an inspector could make a mistake or cause damage, just like any professional doing a very particular job. You should make sure they have two major types of insurance to cover any related damage that may occur during a home inspection. This is known as Errors & Omissions/Professional Liability Insurance and General Liability Insurance. Ensuring that the home inspection company is covered by these types of insurance will save you from damage risk factors. To learn more about these particular types of insurance, read the full version of the Whitepaper guide.
Report Format & Delivery
The report you receive should be detailed, understandable and comply with general standards. There is a variety of specific questions you should ask of your home inspection company and inspector, including; what is the report format, does the report include digital photography, and more. Your home inspection company should also provide you with a variety of options on how to deliver the report.
Franchise vs. Independent
When choosing a franchise or independent home inspection company, it’s important to make sure each one complies with training standards, certificates, and more. Prices may vary between a franchise and an independent, but making sure you are getting a qualified service for the amount you are spending is a critical factor to keep in mind.
Choosing a home inspection company can be easier than expected with the Whitepaper guide. Each of these sections, provides further information to help you make a smart decision with your home inspection company. Realtors can help you choose a qualified company as well. If you want to read more about how to choose the right home inspection company head to the Whitepaper guide, otherwise learn more about home inspections with Inspect-It 1st online.