The least asked, but the arguably most important question is, “How much experience do you have?” Keep in mind, at one point in every home inspector’s career, the answer is “Today is my first day”. If you don’t ask, you won’t know. It’s also important to understand that “trained” and “experienced” are not the same thing. It takes years of observation to get to a point where you can put it all together. Inexperienced inspectors look for evidence of a problem. Experienced inspectors look for the cause.
The price of a home inspection can vary significantly from company to company. Buyers should be wary of budget prices or large discounts as these are telltale signs of new inspectors using low prices to drum up business. At the other end of the spectrum, premium-priced inspections are available, along with a variety of offered ancillary services – some useful, some not. Regardless of the price of the inspection, buyers should verify that the experience level of the person who will perform their inspection is commensurate with the price of the inspection. Call us for more information about pricing.
In the course of an inspection, we will visually inspect all accessible exterior and interior areas, including the roof, exterior cladding, attic, crawlspace/basement, and interior spaces. We remove accessible covers to examine electrical panels and HVAC systems. We verify the operation of accessible plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets, windows, HVAC systems, and common appliances.
Beyond that, our skilled inspectors have the ability to identify unexpected or unusual defects that aren’t found on a checklist or built into home inspection software. There are an infinite number of things that can be wrong. The more esoteric defects will only be found through experience and a deeper understanding of homes.
