A lot is at stake when making a home-buying decision, and having accurate information about a home’s condition is crucial. Home Inspectors have varying qualifications, equipment, experience, reporting methods, and pricing. Choosing the right home inspector can be a confusing and stressful process. Unlike most professionals you hire, you probably won’t meet your home inspector until your appointment, so who do you trust, and how do you choose?
I have spent my entire working life in the construction industry. In the last seven years, I have performed over 5,000 home inspections and hired and trained several other home inspectors. I have found that a few key factors distinguish a great home inspector from an average or poor one. The following information can help you decide on the right company or individual to inspect your new home.
Experience
A great home inspector needs sufficient experience. You cannot become great at anything overnight. A home’s systems are complex, and an inspector must understand a wide range of components, including grading, roofing, siding, structure, insulation, plumbing, heating, electrical, and more. This broad knowledge takes years to develop.
Communication
A great home inspector is a skilled communicator. Inspectors must convey technical information clearly and accurately, both in written reports and verbal responses, when questions arise. A great home inspection report is easy to understand and includes numerous pictures, as well as, when appropriate, videos showing the issues and their location.
Systems, Checklists, and Routines
There is so much to do in the relatively short time allotted for a home inspection that, unless you have a well-thought-out inspection routine, checklists, and systems, items will fall through the cracks and be missed.
Quality Tools
A great home inspector must invest in the proper equipment. All
inspectors should have basic tools, including a flashlight, an outlet tester, and a moisture
meter; however, the price and quality of these tools vary widely.
For example, I have
seen moisture meters for as little as $10, but low-quality tools often yield low-quality
results. The top-of-the-line meters we use cost $700 or more, as accuracy and reliability
are more important to us than the initial cost of the tool. Unfortunately, many in our
industry are unwilling to invest in quality tools, resulting in unreliable results.
Specialty Equipment
A great inspector will also invest in additional specialized
equipment and training.
A home inspector is not required to have a thermal imaging
camera, a combustible gas leak detector, a carbon monoxide detector, or a drone to
inspect high, steep roofs. Still, these tools, along with others, help a great inspector find
things that others cannot detect and would otherwise miss.
Attention to Detail
A great home inspection will not happen if the inspector is unfocused or distracted. Many defects are not immediately apparent to the casual observer, and identifying certain defects requires focus and observational skill, often from multiple vantage points. To perform a great inspection, you must keep 100% of your attention on the job at hand.
Stand Behind Their Work
A great home inspection company’s top priority is providing peace of mind to its clients. We offer a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, a 90- Day Inspection Guarantee, and a Buy-Your-Home-Back Guarantee.
Effort
Finally, and often most importantly, a great home inspector puts in the effort it
takes to do a great job. Some defects would be apparent to nearly anyone willing to do
the required hard work.
For example, many people are unwilling to crawl through spider
webs in the mud, squeezing below beams and ductwork to access the back corner of a
crawlspace, so they shortcut the inspection, skipping the difficult things. Unsurprisingly,
the most likely place to find a crawlspace problem is generally the most challenging place
to access.
Ultimately, a quality and thorough home inspection depends heavily on the
individual inspector’s effort.
The Pech Home Inspection Promise and Guarantee
No one is perfect, but I have never made a mistake in a home inspection because I was lazy or too tired. I take too much pride in my work to do that. I will never give less than my best or shortcut an inspection. If you honor me by permitting me to inspect your new home, I promise to give my best effort. If you are not 100% satisfied with our work by the end of our inspection, I will refund the inspection fee.
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