CALIFORNIA DOES NOT HAVE licensing requirements for home or mold inspection companies, so they can vary in terms of training, certification, experience, integrity and quality. Your real estate agent may have suggestions for inspectors, but it's a good idea to also vet them yourself. Check out the American Society of Home Inspectors website (ashi.org) to find a home inspector or (ACAC.org) for a mold inspector in your area. Meanwhile, here's a look at the important questions to ask before hiring one.
1. Do you perform repairs or just home or mold inspections? Some homebuyers seek the advice of a general contractor rather than a home inspector or a mold remediation company. That's a mistake, as they provide expertise from a different point of view. A home inspector is typically checking the roof or the appliances if they're included in the home, A general contractor is coming in from a repair standpoint and can quote for whatever repairs need to be done. A mold inspector determines if there is a problem; a remediation company removes the problem. In fact, providing both services could create a conflict of interest, because buyers can't always distinguish between necessary repairs or the size of the mold problem. IT IS ALSO AGAINST THE LAW IN CALIFORNIA FOR THE PERSON DOING THE HOME INSPECTION TO DO ANY REPAIRS ON THE HOME. THERE IS NO LAW AGAINST THIS CONFLICT OF INTEREST FOR MOLD INSPECTORS OR REMEDIATION COMPANIES.
2. Are you insured? A surprising number of home and mold nspectors don't have insurance. They should have errors and omissions insurance in case there is something significant that they miss.
3. Can you provide references? It's a good idea to check the inspection company's references, Ask previous clients about whether the inspector arrived on time and inspected all aspects of the house.
4. Can I tag along on the inspection? Some home buyers leave the inspectors alone to examine the home, while others want to be more hands-on and follow along as the inspector works. If you fall into the latter camp, which several experts recommended, make sure your inspector is willing to walk you through the process.
5. What does the inspection include? To compare inspectors, you need to know what the inspection includes (or doesn't include). Ideally, the inspection should be as thorough as possible.
6. Will you send me an inspection report? The inspector should send you a detailed report after completing the inspection.
7. Do you have any special expertise? If you're buying a special type of property, such as a historic home or new construction, make sure the inspector understands the special considerations for those types of properties.
8. How much do you charge? Notice that price is the last question mentioned. That's because shopping on price alone may lead to cutting corners. You might be saving a couple of hundred dollars to hire the cheapest inspector, but you could be paying in a big way because the inspector wasn't thorough.
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