Buying a Home: Hire Your Own Home Inspector

Buying a home is probably the largest investment a person could ever make. Money is saved for a down payment. Dreams of the perfect home are becoming a reality. You need to protect that dream by having a home inspector check out your possible investment first. Don't rely on your real estate agent to give you a list of recommended home inspectors. Instead, do your research and hire one on your own.

When it comes down to it, there is a conflict of interest between the real estate agent and the home inspector. The real estate agent wants to sell the home and pocket some change. The home inspector wants work to make his living. When the real estate agent recommends an inspector, that inspector knows that if he wants another referral, he'll try to not find things wrong with the house. If he finds too many problems, he may frighten off the potential buyers, thus, losing a sale for the agent. So proceed with caution if you use a recommended inspector.

The best thing to do is to find an inspector on your own. This way, he has a responsibility to you, not the real estate agent. There are websites to help with your search, such as www.ashi.org (American Society of Home Inspectors), www.independentinspectors.org (Home Inspectors of North America), and www.nahi.org (National Association of Home Inspectors). All of which provide much more information than just local inspectors.

The National Association of Home Inspectors (www.nahi.org) provides a list of items checked and not checked by the inspector. This fairly extensive list will give you an idea of what to expect from the inspection. This list is called the "Standards of Practice", which can be found by clicking "About NAHI" and then "consumer information".

Here is a short version of what to expect:

Don't expect an inspector to move furniture, rugs or other items to check the floors and walls. They also will not inspect basic appliances in the home, recreation facilities or alarms. Termite damage needs to be checked by pest control services, not the home inspector, and don't expect them to test air quality, either. Finally, do not expect a report on any past violations of the home.

What you can expect for them to check, however, would be the foundation and walls, land grade and water drainage, plants affecting the foundation, and support systems. All visible areas will be checked such as walkways, carports, steps, handrails and guardrails, roofing material and gutters. They will also check the insulation and ventilation in the attic as long as they have access to it. The same goes for crawl spaces. Exterior wall covering and trim will also be checked, along with any downspouts and skylights. Chimneys and fireplaces are also inspected for safety. Finally, all electrical, plumbing, heating and air will be checked. They need to make sure that breaker boxes, plumbing supply lines, fuel sources, and equipment are all up to code.

Keep in mind that safety to the inspector is important, too. So never ask him to put himself into an obviously dangerous situation. You'll also see a section about that in the "Standards of Practice".

All of this may seem depressing. Why can't the inspector check it all? But he can only do so much. Keep in mind that if you've done your homeowrk, you have hired an excellent inspector who will do all he can to inform you of any problems. Remember that when machines and other items found in the house are used, they will eventually need maintenance or repair. Nothing will remain perfect. At least with a home inspector, you are made aware of possible problems. You'll also be surprised at what you might learn from him.

Home warranties are available from your real estate agent. That can also help protect you from unforeseen home expenses. It's just another way to protect your investment.

Resources:

www.hgtv.com
"Hiring a Home Inspector" by Holden Lewis
"Home-Inspection Expectations" by Dwight Barnett

National Association of Home Inspectors - www.nahi.org