Tips for Hiring a Home Inspector

Jennifer's Tips for Hiring a Home Inspector

When it comes to buying a home, it is important to hire a home inspector to give you an unbiased opinion as to the state of the home.  But finding a good home inspector may be harder than you think.  If you do not know a home inspector, as your Panama City Beach realtor I can recommend a few to you but then it is up to you to do your due diligence in hiring.

1. Start by asking what their qualifications are and their experience.  Ideally they have had training in construction, maintenance standards as well as experience in home inspections.  But keep in mind that they likely will not be an expert in every area and may recommend bringing in specialists for things such as pool inspections if they have a concern.

2. Ask what items on the property will be included in the inspection.  This is especially relevant if there are outbuildings such as a garage or swimming pool.  Check if they will go up on the roof or into any crawl spaces.

3. When the inspection is done, you should be provided a report.  You may want to ask for a sample of their report prior so you can see how detailed a report and information is you will receive.  Is it just check boxes or do they also include descriptions and pictures?

Just like any time you hire a proefssional, ask for their references and then contact the references to see if they were satisfied.  From the references, find out how long they have lived in their home and if the report was accurate and did not miss anything substantial.

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