A home inspection may well be one of the best ideas you ever have. When purchasing a home, it is vital to know that it is structurally sound and will not need any expensive repairs soon after you have moved in. Buying a home is often the most costly investment in a person’s life. It is especially important when you consider the amount of renegade home inspectors and substandard inspections that take place every year.

These men and women take shortcuts. Partly because they can, and partly because they lack the ability to perform a top class inspection. Shockingly, a large number of states do not need a home inspector to be licensed so it is important to know what to look for in the person responsible for checking a property you intend to buy.

A Wealth Of Experience
The last thing you need when choosing a home inspector is someone who lacks experience. Do you really want a person with 12 months or less of experience running the rule over such a valuable piece of property? Of course, home inspectors need to get their experience from somewhere, it just doesn’t have to be on your watch. You need a full-time inspector with years of experience who performs more than 150 inspections a year.

Knowledge
Generally, experience equates to knowledge but this is not always the case. Don’t assume that a home inspector with 20 years experience is completely competent (even though it is a reasonable assumption). Look for a home inspector that began their career after having a degree in engineering or architecture and learned the additional trade skills required. Having a degree in engineering or architecture is desirable because these qualifications provide a solid base in general construction. If you can find a home inspector that began his career in this manner and has spent 15 years or more between formal training and practical experience, choose him to perform your home inspection.

Equipment
Ask the prospective inspector what equipment will be used. Steer clear of anyone who relies on a flashlight and good judgment. There is a host of top quality equipment on the market which is designed to make a home inspection more thorough. Examples of this include high quality testing equipment such as fuel gas, carbon monoxide and electrical circuit analyzers, digital cameras and digital moisture meters. Other necessary equipment includes a ladder, levels and a flashlight that offers high visibility. The inspection could save thousands if it finds problems, don’t let a home inspector get away with spending peanuts on the requisite equipment.

While it is tempting to choose a home inspector on the basis of price, this is a foolish move. In the home inspection business, if you want quality, you need to be prepared to pay for it. Penny pinching when it comes to something so serious could cost a fortune if a defect goes undetected. Choose a home inspector for all the right reasons. These include experience, qualifications and the amount of money they are prepared to spend on equipment. After all, a quality home inspector takes pride in his job.

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