subject: How To Find A Good House Inspector [print this page] In order to make sure your potential house is properly inspected, it's important to find a professional, thorough, trustworthy house inspector. Be careful about inspectors recommended by real estate agents; they may not be completely impartial. Both agent and inspector have a financial incentive for things to go well, so this is not the best option for the buyer.
Here are some things to check for when searching for a house inspector:
1.Make sure that the inspection will cover all applicable requirements and complies with the standards of the industry. 2.Look for an inspector who is associated with a professional inspection organization, such as the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors (NZIBS). The NZIBS has rigorous professional and educational requirements for membership, so this should ensure that the inspector is a true professional. 3.Check for any complaints which have been made against the inspector. A good way to do this is to call the organization he or she belongs to. 4.Ask how long the inspection will take; a thorough inspection should take 3 to 4 hours. Any less, and the inspector won't be doing a good job. 5.Ask to see samples of inspection reports produced by the inspector, and make sure you fully understand the report. 6.Ask for independent references from previous clients, and find out whether they were happy with the home inspection they received. Ask the reference whether the inspection was completed on times, how detailed the report was, and whether the home inspector was found to be wrong with any of his or her findings. 7.Ask to see a sample inspection sheet. Make sure the sheet includes a list of all of the home's major systems. 8.See if the inspector will let you be present during the inspection. This can give you a better idea of the state of the property, as well as letting you ensure the inspector does a good job.
Remember that being a builder or contractor alone is not necessarily a good background to carry out an inspection. Training as a residential property inspector is also desirable. If the property you are considering buying has specific aspects, such as a septic tank, then looking for a specialist in the area as well as a general inspector is a good idea.
When you sign a contract with a home inspector, make sure you read and understand any limitations on the work the inspector will perform, and any guarantees or warrantees relating to the inspector's work.
