Industry Tips
Home Inspectors
Before signing a contract or a purchase agreement, make your purchase obligation contingent upon the findings of a professional home inspection. The purpose of a home inspection is to summarize the condition both negative and positive of the property, point out the need for major repairs and identify areas that may need attention in the near future. Inspection fees vary based on geography, size and features of the property, and age of the home. It is recommended that you check around for local pricing, the lowest priced inspector isn’t necessarily the best bargain. Be sure to consider qualifications such as experience, training, and professional affiliations and memberships. There are professional associations for independent home inspectors that have standards for membership and a code of ethics. Be sure to inquire about and verify all memberships in these types of organizations.
Not all states require licensing for home inspectors. Currently Indiana requires licensing and you can obtain this information by calling (317) 234-3009, or you can access it online at https://extranet.in.gov/weblookup/search.aspx. In July 2004 Kentucky passed a bill that will require home inspectors to be licensed by July 2006. Presently Ohio does not have any regulation requiring licensing. However currently there is a bill on the floor of the Ohio House of Representatives introducing this type of regulation for this industry. Until these regulations are in effect consumers can contact their states Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.
