Are you interested in buying a home, but worried about the repairs that may be lurking underneath the home? Do you want a bit more peace of mind before you invest in your new home? If so, then you need to find the right housing inspector for your needs.
Doing so can help you, regardless of whether you’re the buyer or the seller. They can give you a review of the property as a whole, educating you on the condition of its most important features.
See below for several tips on how to find the perfect housing inspector. This will help the entire process go smoothly.
1. Search for Experience
When it comes to home inspections, their experience is everything. You need to make sure that you hire a Cleveland home inspector who knows what to keep an eye out for with features such as:
- Roof
- Foundation
- Heating and Air
- Plumbing
- Attic (if applicable)
- Ceilings
- Electrical System
- Walls
- Structure of the Home
- Windows
- Doors
- Insulation & More
It’s worth clarifying that a home inspector is not a specialist for things such as roof inspections or foundation inspections. Rather, they are certified professionals that take a comprehensive look at the overall condition of the home.
Be sure to reach out to a trusted Cleveland home inspector and tell them about the situation you’re in. Are you a seller that’s wanting to identify any potential repairs before you list the property? Are you a buyer that wants to get a better sense of the home’s condition?
They’ll use their experience in the field to assess the home properly. They’ll take a few hours to walk through the house, then summarize everything they find in an easy-to-understand report.
Think of the report as a SWOT analysis. It will identify the strengths and weaknesses of the home, as well as any features that need to be repaired.
2. Use References and Reviews
Another important aspect of finding the right home inspector is searching for one that prioritizes their customers. They’re there to perform the service for whoever hires them.
Of course, they’ll provide an honest and transparent report, but they’ll keep their customer’s best interests in mind. For example, if an interested buyer hires them, they will assess the house from the buyer’s point of view. What does the buyer need to be alerted to? What repairs should the seller make before finalizing the sale?
Fortunately, thanks to the digital age we live in, it’s never been easier to find a service that prioritizes its clients. In order to get a peek behind the curtain, you can search online reviews, read through customer testimonials on their site, or request references from the service themselves.
When looking at online reviews, be sure to ask yourself a few questions:
- How many years has the home inspector been in service?
- Were the clients buyers or sellers?
- How diligent was the service from the client’s point of view?
- Has the client used this home inspector for multiple properties? (if so, that’s a good sign!)
3. Consider the Price
First thing that you should know: the interested buyer almost always pays for the home inspector. One exception to this is when the seller is hiring the inspector beforehand to spot necessary repairs.
If you’re the buyer, you should always consider the all-in price of the service. How much is too much for a home inspection? The answer is entirely up to you and your budget.
That said, you should always look at the return on your investment, not finding the lowest price possible. If you hire the lowest price, they might not include inspections of certain areas of the house.
The cost of the inspection will also depend on the size of the house, its location, what all you want included, the date, and so forth. Make sure you get a quote for the overall price with fees included before you reach your decision.
4. Find One With Insurance
Hiring a home inspection service with business insurance is a must. This helps make sure that all parties involved are relieved of financial strain.
For example, if the home inspector were to slip and fall down the stairs during the inspection, you would be held financially responsible if they don’t have insurance policies in place.
Make sure the home inspection company you hire has policies such as business liability insurance, umbrella insurance, workers’ compensation, and so on. It never hurts to ask, and insured companies will be happy to share the details to give you more peace of mind.
5. Request a Sample Report
When you hire a home inspector, you want to make sure that their report includes as much detail as possible.
Be sure to ask them for a sample report before you hire them. This will give you an idea of the information you can expect when you get your report back from them.
Do their reports do a good job of explaining the defects? Do they offer suggestions or recommendations on how to get it fixed? Do they shed any light on why the defects need to be repaired and how urgent the situation is?
Find the Perfect Housing Inspector for Your Needs
Now that you have seen all of the different things to look for when you hire a housing inspector in Cleveland, it’s time to start your search!
All you sellers out there, be sure to read this article for more information on the home inspection nightmares you should avoid at all costs.
For more inquiries that you may have, please feel free to reach out via phone at 440-812-3051 and we will be excited to work with you further.