Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Do You Really Want a Cheap Home Inspector?

When it comes to choosing a home inspector you don't want "cheap"--you want "good." 

A good home inspector can save you more money than the extra he/she might cost compared to someone who just breezes through the place. If you're considering a house purchase, it's in your best interest to learn as much as possible about the house, and I don't think you'll get that from "cheap."

Look for someone with lots of experience working in your area.  In California the inspector should be certified by CREIA or ASHI; better if certified by both. 

Also review them on the BBB site; do not rely on Angies, Home Advisor list etc., or your real estate agent.


One in five homeowners said they wish they’d inspected the home more carefully before moving in— a according to a survey by Trulia.

In order to compete with other bidders, many homeowners are signing contracts and moving in without getting a professional home inspection. Or hiring the cheapest home inspector, rather than one certified by ASHI.
In competitive markets like  it’s not rare to just forego a home inspection or say you won’t ask for any repairs. People that are doing that and purchasing properties that they could possibly have to dump tens of thousands of dollars into later.
This is the kind of mistake that Trulia real estate expert Michael Corbett says is a “disaster waiting to happen.”
“I would never waive an inspection,” he says. “I would pass on the house before I’d waive on an inspection, mainly because I may get to a house and realize [too late] that there are issues.”




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