When you’re at the inspection stage of the home buying process, finding the right professional can feel like a daunting task. There are so many things to consider. Who should you hire? More important, how will you find the right person for the job?
Not to worry. You have several options, and these are the most common.
Ask Friends and Family Members
One of the best and most trustworthy ways to find a home inspector is asking friends and family members. They tend to offer a reliable opinion about the inspector’s work and won’t put the inspector’s business interests ahead of yours. Unfortunately, real estate isn’t an everyday sort of purchase for most people. In fact, a decade or more might have passed since the last time one of your closest friends or relatives had a home inspection. Old information might not fit the inspector’s professionalism and work ethic today.
Refer to Your Old Friend Google
Thanks to the Internet, you have limitless choices for sourcing a home inspector to do the work. Just open up a Google browser page, type in “hire an inspector” and see what comes up. Chances are, you’ll get a host of results, maps and perhaps even some online reviews. That’s great information, especially if you live in a busy area. For smaller towns, results might be thinner. In every case, check with the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been lodged. Some companies aren’t above paying for fake testimonials.
Work with a Home Inspector Matching Company
Probably the simplest and quickest way to find a dependable, qualified home inspector is through a service such as Hire an Inspector. Placement services connect the home buyer with a qualified inspector based on location and availability. Customers get quick and easy access to the best inspectors in the area, and inspectors get a steady stream of customers. It’s a winning combination for everyone involved.
Watch how it works:
Ask Your Real Estate Agent
Perhaps the most common way to find a home inspector is by way of a real estate agent’s recommendation. It’s common, but it’s not always best. Many agents and inspectors have a working relationship, which is a good thing for them. The inspector helps facilitate inspections and agents send them more work. But what happens if an inspector finds a defect, knows that it might harm the chances of a sale and, consequently nudges the results to help ensure a good report? There’s no way to know for sure if a referred inspector has your best interest a heart or if they favor the agent. Hire independently, and you can eliminate that worry.
Hiring a home inspector shouldn’t be another chore that’s layered over home buying process. It’s difficult enough to buy a house. The home inspection process should be simple. Fortunately, it can be.
When you’re in the market for a home inspection by an experienced and dependable pro, Hire an Inspector can help. Let us help find a qualified and dependable home inspector near you.