How A Home Inspection Can Help You Get A Great Home Deal

Finding a good home inspector can be a challenge. Do you use who the real estate agent recommends or find one totally on your own? Here are some things for you to consider when looking for that home inspection person.

What Lies Beneath makes for an excellent horror movie title, and many homeowners are having nightmares about what is lying beneath their walls and floors. A home inspection can tell you what needs to be repaired in a house, how easy the problems are to fix, and give you timelines for when repairs should be completed. Many times, Uncle Joe expects to have your work done asap, but days quickly turn into months and then years. The home inspector will give you a real answer on what needs immediate attention and what can safely wait.

The following (unofficial) list is an approximation of the proper locations of G.F.C.I. receptacles or G.F.C.I. breakers that serve those locations. This is a complex issue with several variations. The list is a good basis to determine where the device is required based on the year construction permits were pulled.

Contact your states licensing board, and ask if the inspector is active and up-to-date. Also, “ask if there are any complaints against the inspector you might have in mind.

Does the inspector have any kind of certification or belong to a group for his profession? There are many who do not however; if you discover one that does, you can be certain they have probably been through a more rigorous training than those who do not.

What’s his educational background? Does he keep up to date with the changes in the industry, including changing laws or codes? Does he have a background in home construction? Does he have a wealth of knowledge about building trades or remodeling? What did he do before becoming an inspector?

It is important to keep in mind that no matter how professional and knowledgeable the inspector is, he or she may not be able to determine every problem the house will have for the next five years. None of us have a crystal ball and sometimes a furnace will break or a leak will start out of the blue. Unfortunately, that’s one of the realities of owning and maintaining a home. But you’re going to have a much better chance at catching potential problems if you hire a professional with the right tools and training.

We often take for granted the roof over our head, but good maintenance can minimize big problems later and make your home inspector’s job a little easier as well.