| After you have found the home that seems to | | | | standards from the inspector and make sure he |
| be the one that you want to purchase, it is | | | | or she is properly licensed. |
| time to get a home inspection completed. You | | | | |
| can enlist in the services of your Realtor to | | | | In addition to the state requirements, it is |
| help you find a great inspector, but you | | | | also a good idea to select a professional |
| should not rely entirely upon your Realtor to | | | | that is a member of one of two different |
| tell you which inspector you should use. | | | | professional standards organizations: the |
| After all, the home you will be purchasing | | | | American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) |
| will be your property and, if you choose a | | | | and the National Association of Home |
| poor real estate agent, you might actually be | | | | Inspectors (NAHI). Both of these |
| referred to an inspector that performs a poor | | | | organizations are reputable and insist that |
| inspection. Therefore, you should keep a few | | | | their members meet certain standards of |
| things in mind when selecting a professional | | | | excellence. It is even more important to |
| to conduct the home inspection. | | | | look for an inspector belonging to one of |
| | | | these organizations if your state does not |
| Why Have a Home Inspection in the First | | | | have established licensing standards. |
| Place? | | | | |
| | | | Getting Properly Educated |
| Having a home inspection performed is an | | | | |
| important component of the buying process. | | | | The level of education of the inspector is |
| In essence, the home inspection helps to | | | | another factor that you should consider. |
| ensure that you are purchasing what you think | | | | Ideally, the inspector should have at least a |
| you are buying. In other words, the | | | | bachelor's degree. In this way, you can take |
| inspection can help to uncover any hidden | | | | comfort in knowing that the person has the |
| problems that you may not have noticed when | | | | necessary critical thinking skills to analyze |
| you looked at the home. | | | | potential problems and safety hazards within |
| | | | the home. |
| If the report the inspector provides shows | | | | |
| that there are problems, you should then use | | | | If the inspector is a member of ASHI or NAHI, |
| this information in order to go back to the | | | | you can be certain that he or she has |
| drawing board with your Realtor and with the | | | | attained a certain amount of education. In |
| seller. If there are problems with the home, | | | | fact, members of these organizations will |
| you may be able to negotiate a lower price or | | | | have passed a national test that is |
| you may be able to insist that the seller | | | | administered by the Examination Board of |
| make the necessary repairs before the deal is | | | | Professional Home Inspectors. In addition, |
| closed. | | | | members of these organizations have to |
| | | | complete continuing education requirements in |
| Checking the Inspector's Licensure | | | | order to maintain their memberships. |
| | | | |
| When you begin the process of selecting an | | | | By looking for an inspector with these |
| inspector, you should first look into the | | | | characteristics, as well as finding one that |
| various inspectors' licensures. Depending | | | | is properly insured with Errors and Omissions |
| upon the state in which you live, there may | | | | Insurance, you will be able to tell your |
| an established standard of practice or | | | | Realtor to finalize the deal with confidence |
| educational requirements set in place. If | | | | that you are making a good decision. |
| this is the case, request a copy of the state | | | | |