(1) Get A Home Inspection From Professional Home Inspectors:

Nobody works harder for you, the client, than About Your Home Inspection! The success of the business depends on exceeding your expectations for quality and professionalism each and every time. Be sure to get an inspection from a professional company because they have a vested interest in insuring your Total Satisfaction!

Also, it takes a full time inspector at least 100 inspections to develop the eyes, ears and nose for hunting down problems. Part time home inspectors simply don’t have the time in the field to develop that radar. Be sure to ask how many inspections the inspector conducts annually and how many years he/she has been doing them. A quality full time home inspector conducts between 200 and 400 inspections annually – blind inspectors conduct 50 to 100 inspections annually. Conducting 200-400 inspections each year requires extensive referrals, by prior clients, lenders, real estate agents and others — so there is a much greater chance the inspector is not blind!

(2) Education & Training:

Being a contractor is very different from being a professional home inspector. Home inspectors are responsible for evaluating all of the systems and components of the home – not just one aspect like the brick or the framing. To be able to provide a competent evaluation of all of these elements takes formal education and training. Did the inspector attend one of the top home inspection schools? Or did he complete a correspondence course, or have his brother-in-law Bubba show him how to inspect?

Comprehensive continuing education and training is a must!

(3) Certifications:

While certifications are certainly important, it’s the combination of experience, education and training that make the difference in the competency of your next home inspector. Certifications let the world know that the inspector can pass a test not that he can inspect a home properly. We all know people who are certified for one thing or another that we wouldn’t hire under any circumstances.

There is simply no substitute for experience and proper training.

(4) The Inspection Report:

The top home inspectors in today’s business don’t produce handwritten reports. A professional inspector will provide a combination checklist/narrative report. Technology has evolved where you should expect to receive a full-color report, with digital photographs of the issues discovered during the course of the inspection. The report should not contain repair costs or action plans for repairs. Professional home inspectors inspect — they don’t repair! An inspector that makes repairs should always be avoided due to the conflict of interest inherent in that situation.

Ask for a sample of an inspection report so you’ll know what you can expect for your time and money. After all, you are the client!

(5) How Long Has The Inspection Company Been in Business:

If you are dealing with a single inspector firm, how long has the inspection company been in business? Does the inspection company have dedicated employees serving as customer service representatives to schedule appointments and provide any needed follow-up assistance or do you have to call “1-800-good-luck” to talk to a real person?

(6) Ask To See What Other Home Buyers Have Said About The Inspector:

Quality professional home inspectors ask their clients to complete surveys upon completion of the inspection. Professional inspectors want to know what they are doing right, as well as what might need improvement. If the inspector can’t or won’t provide client referrals, he might be blind in more ways than one!

(7) Ask Your Lender or Realtor For A Referral To A Quality Home Inspector :

The Realtor or lender’s sole interest in the transaction is seeing that you get a quality home that’s right for you and your family!

About Your Home Inspection is Chicago area’s most respected and trusted leader in home inspection services! You can be sure that our inspector work exclusively for you – not the Seller, nor the selling real estate agent. Our expert inspector can make the buying process easier by arming you with the knowledge you need to make an informed decision!

Download The Blind Inspector Report