Inspect the inspectors
. . . before making a selection!
Imagine youve found a great new home and made your Offer
To Purchase. What sort of guarantee do you have that what you
see is what youll get? These days, most real estate contracts
allow inclusion of satisfactory professional inspections as a
requirement for completing the purchase.
You wouldnt select a doctor by opening the Yellow Pages
and blindly pointing to a listing, and you shouldnt be uninformed
in your choice of home inspector, either. After all, this is a
huge purchase, and you shouldnt place your trust in just
anybodys hands.
The real estate agent will be able to recommend reliable local
inspectors, but youre still faced with making the choice.
What are some questions to ask?
Ask about the inspectors experience in construction or
building maintenance as it relates to his or her qualifications.
Dont be afraid to request a sample report, so you can judge
if the job will be done in a thorough and detailed fashion. Also
ask for references and call them! This is an excellent
method of verifying the quality you can expect.
Finally, understand that even the best inspectors experience
oversights, so kindly ask about their policy in such cases, and
to what degree they are liable. Remember that no home is perfect,
but be sure that you dont get any nasty surprises after
youve completed your purchase!
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