While you take a couple of steps to ensure that you’re buying the right house, why overlook home inspection? From getting unpleasant surprises to moving into a noisy neighborhood, there can many reasons you may regret the decision you make. However, hiring a proficient and qualified property inspector ensures that you’re investing in the right place.
On the contrary, if you hire the wrong home inspection service, it can land you into plenty of trouble and cost you a lot of money. Below we will share the most important steps you must take while hiring a real estate inspector.
Inquire about Credentials and Qualifications
Saving a hundred bucks by hiring an inexperienced or unqualified property inspector can actually cost you more in the long run. Therefore, you must do thorough due diligence before hiring a home inspector. Always choose a certified Long Island home inspector, probably someone who has earned the license from ASHI InterNACHI.
You can ask your friends and acquaintances to refer you to some of the best home inspectors in Long Island. But in either case, you should research the inspector’s qualifications. Don’t forget to inquire about the errors and omissions insurance (E&O insurance).
Review a Sample Home Inspection Report
Every good Long Island home inspector aims to make sure that his or her client is completely satisfied. For that, they provide all the required information a client asks for. Considering that, a good home inspector will never refuse to send you a sample home inspection report. If the assessment contains just a few pages without key details, avoid hiring such a person. You can also ask about the items on the inspector’s checklist.
Although report lengths may vary, an average report is at least 20-pages long. Not to mention, a good comprehensive sample report does contain property pictures, highlighting damages and defects. A report usually covers things, such as mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and structural aspects of a house.
Avoid Inspectors Who Perform Repairs or Recommend Contractors
If your home inspector recommends a contractor for repairs, that inspector could be working for his own interest. Moreover, by referring to any other professional for repairs liability issues may also arise.
Some inspector associations and state regulations, such as the National Association of Home Inspectors, allow a home inspector Nassau to take on particular repairs. But unless the inspector is qualified enough to carry out the tasks, it’s better to keep repairs separate from inspection. Your home repairs should be managed and tackled by licensed contractors.
Inquire about the Length of Your Home Inspection
Almost all residential inspections take two to three hours. Therefore, you have to do your homework before. Determine what the professional will inspect, such as the size of the home, number of systems, and number of electrical panels, the age, and condition of your new home. You should ask the inspector about the length of the home inspection procedure before hiring them.
The Main Takeaway
Often, buyers barely pay any attention when it comes to hiring a home inspector. This is probably because they want to pay as little as possible or maybe they’re already quite busy with other tasks. Keeping the aforementioned steps in mind not only ensures you avoid hiring the wrong Long Island home inspector, but also helps you make the best decision.
