Not sure which questions to ask the home inspector. Ask these 10 key questions so you have confidence in your home inspection report.
Before you start your search for a home inspector, prepare some questions to ask the home inspector. Performing a home inspection is an important part of the home buying process. A bad home inspection report could cause you to say goodbye to a home you have fallen in love with. It’s important to have confidence in the inspector and to feel like you can trust the information provided by the home inspector. You may choose to do a few brief interviews with local home inspectors before deciding on which inspector you would like to hire.
A home inspection may uncover issues that you cannot see and give specific information on obvious problems. You may have noticed a watermark on the ceiling or that the central air conditioning unit is not working properly. Upon noticing those red flags, you will want someone knowledgeable to provide answers. The home inspector will inspect the structural, electrical, and mechanical components of the home. The inspector will identify issues with the property and provide an inspection report to the buyer.
What will a home inspection tell me about a home?
A home inspection report may tell you good things, alright things, or unfavorable things about your potential future home. In the home inspection report, the home inspector will highlight issues with the property and provide information on the severity of those issues. Though you may find yourself taking the good with the bad, it is better to know. The information provided by the home inspector may help you determine if you wish to proceed with the home purchase. When figuring out which questions to ask the home inspector make sure the information gathered will be relevant to your decision on who you are going to hire.
Outlined are 10 questions to ask the home inspector during the interview process.
Though you may ask your Realtor, family, or friends for recommendations, do your due diligence.
Are you currently in good standing with a National Home Inspection Association?
According to Pennsylvania Home Inspection State Regulations, there are several steps that must be taken to become a certified home inspector. A certified home inspector, must pass an exam and complete at least 100 home inspections alongside an inspector certified by a professional association. PA law requires that home inspectors be in good standing with a national home inspection association. It’s ok to ask about certifications and experience. These are valid questions to ask the home inspector as you are hiring the inspector for a job. Think of some experience-based questions to ask the home inspector. It is best to make sure the home inspector is competent and has received the necessary training to complete the job.
How long have you been a home inspector?
Are you going to be home inspection number one or one hundred? Well, you should find out. Knowing how much experience the home inspector has before making a hiring decision is important. By preparing, experience-focused questions to ask the home inspector you can gauge how much experience the home inspector has. Asking the home inspector a simple question like how long have been in the business will go a long way to help build your confidence in the home inspector. Questions to ask the home inspector about his or her experience are easy to ask and come with a simple answer.
Do you carry professional liability or errors & omission insurance?
A home inspector needs to have Errors and Omission Insurance which covers the home inspector and the home inspectors’ company. The insurance protects against clients’ claims to have suffered a loss, due to damages or injury, as the result of an error or omission in the final inspection report.
Be prepared with questions to ask the home inspector regarding liability insurance to determine if the home inspector is insured. The inspectors’ liability insurance covers injury to someone or damage to property caused by the home inspector.
What areas do you service?
Before you start with your interview of questions to ask the home inspector, confirm that the home inspector services the location. Nothing worse than spending 10 minutes asking a bunch of questions, only to find out the inspector doesn’t cover the area.
Are you a full-service company? Are you able to complete radon, pest, septic, water, and/or well-testing?
Buyers have the option to complete additional tests and inspections, such as radon, termite, septic, water, and well-testing. If you choose any other inspections or tests, the home inspector may be able to help with those. The Home inspector may use a subcontractor to complete the additional tests or inspections. The subcontractors may perform their testing or inspections at the same time as the home inspection. If the home inspector uses subcontractors, consider questions to ask the home inspector to clarify who will complete which inspections. Having all or a few of the inspections completed at one time is better than finding three inspectors to complete three different inspections.
What is your turnaround time for providing the inspection report?
Utilize questions to ask the home inspector to determine the inspectors’ turnaround times. Upon buying a home, time is of the essence and you need a home inspector that can provide the inspection report quickly. The buyer has a timeframe, outlined in the agreement of sale, to address issues found during the home inspection with the seller. If you are unable to find an inspector to complete the inspection within the agreed-upon time, contact your buyers’ agent to discuss available options.
The typical turnaround time for an inspection report is two days. The home inspector will provide an electronic copy of the home inspection report to both you and your real estate agent.
How long do you take to respond to follow-up questions regarding the report?
Another important thing to ask among the questions to ask the home inspector is about their response time. You may have follow-up questions for the inspector regarding issues found within the report. Upon reviewing the report, put together a list of questions to ask the home inspector regarding the issues you have questions about. When you need to clarify an issue before going to the seller, you will want an inspector that can provide a rapid response. Prompt responses from the home inspector will prevent unnecessary delays in the home buying process.
When can you complete the inspection?
Finding out the timeframe in which the inspection will take place is one of the most important questions to ask the home inspector. Completing the home inspection is time-sensitive. The buyer, per the agreement of sale, must complete the home inspection within a certain timeframe. Before hiring the inspector, make sure that the home inspector can inspect the property and deliver the report before the deadline. Refer to your agreement of sale or speak to your real estate agent to confirm the timeframe for completing the home inspection.
How long will the inspection take?
With so much to do and so little time, you will want to get an idea of how long the inspection will take. Questions to ask the home inspector about how long the inspection will take may be met with additional questions about the property. Have a copy of the agreement of sale and sellers’ disclosure notice so you can easily access information about the property. Typically, a home inspection takes anywhere from two to three hours to complete.
What is the cost of the inspection?
Questions to ask the home inspector about cost are arguably the most important. You will need to know how much the inspection will cost you. In Pittsburgh, the average home inspection costs around $300. Keep in mind, additional testing and inspection costs may apply. During the interview, be sure to include questions to ask the home inspector regarding specific costs for any additional tests or inspections. It is best to contact local home inspectors and ask for information on their pricing. The cost of the home inspection may vary based on the size of the home and locality. You should expect to pay more for larger or more complex properties. However, there is no set fee for a home inspection.
Choose the right inspector the first time
Vet the home inspector that you choose! While it may seem like a lot to prepare questions to ask the home inspector, you’ll be happy you did in the end. Remember as a buyer you are responsible for paying for the home inspection.
Also, expect to spend a few hours with the home inspector. Given that you will spend a considerable amount of time with the inspector, choose someone that you are comfortable with.
Be prepared with questions to ask the home inspector during the home inspection
Sellers must complete and provide a seller disclosure notice prior to the sale of their home. The sellers’ disclosure notice, in most cases, will provide you information on past and present issues with the property as noted by the seller. The sellers must complete the disclosure notice to the best of their knowledge and provide truthful answers. However, the sellers’ disclosure notice is not a substitute for a home inspection.
Before going to the home inspection, carefully review the sellers’ disclosure notice. This will give you an opportunity to point out issues in the home to the home inspector. Ask the home inspector to further investigate and explain those issues to you.
Is a home inspection really necessary?
Completing a home inspection is optional for the buyer. However, a home inspection will give you a lot of information about the property such as an estimated age and condition of major components. If you choose to waive your right to a home inspection do so cautiously! Before waiving your right to a home inspection, make sure that you speak with your Realtor to discuss the risks.
The Inspector Found Issues with the property. What are my options?
As a Realtor, I review the inspection report with my clients. I ask my clients to categorize issues noted within the inspection report. Together we come up with a plan on how we will address their concerns. For more information about the home inspections process, see FAQ: Everything You Need to About Home Inspections. There you will find additional information on your options for proceeding after you receive the inspection report. If the home inspector delivers troubling news, don’t immediately become discouraged. There may be a remedy to some or all of the issues. Maybe you will decide that you would like to move on to another property. That’s ok too.
