Home inspectors near you

When you’re buying, you want assurance that there are no hidden structural issues or problems with the house. When you’re selling, you want the home inspector to confirm that you’ve presented the house accurately and that there’s nothing that needs to be fixed before the sale.

A house inspection will give all parties the peace of mind of knowing the condition of the home before any money changes hands or papers are signed. It may seem like a lot of money when you hire an inspector, but an inspection will help you save money in the long run.

 

What does a home inspector do?

Home inspectors go over the house from top to bottom to confirm its physical structure and condition.

A home inspection checklist will pinpoint the problems an inspector will look for as well as the strengths of the house and suggestions for preventive maintenance.

 

Who can be a house inspector?

Architects, structural engineers, and building contractors can all do home inspections. There is no licensing regulation on a national level in the United States or Canada. But you should check to see if your state or province has local requirements.

Membership in professional associations can help with your confidence level with an inspector.

Find out if the inspector belongs to a professional association, such as the American Society of Home Inspectors, the National Society of Professional Engineers, or the Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors.

 

Home inspection tips

• Ask friends, family, and colleagues for recommendations. Look for someone who is experienced and known for being very tough. Check BBB.org to see if the inspector is BBB Accredited. Read the reviews and make sure the inspector responds to complaints.
• Make sure you check for experience and references. If your inspector often works with the real estate agent you are dealing with, be particularly careful checking feedback. You want to be sure the home inspector is working in your best interests and isn’t dependent on the real estate agent. In a worst-case scenario, the inspector could ignore problems with the house because they want to maintain the relationship with the real estate agent.
• Make sure your inspector is an expert with residential buildings, not commercial properties. If there are specific issues you are concerned about, you should check to see if your inspector has expertise in that area.
• Be cautious if your home inspector is a contractor, especially if they say they’ve found issues with the home and propose fixing them for you.
• Come to the inspection with questions you want to ask and make sure you fully understand all the information the inspector gives you.
• When you receive it, read the home inspection report carefully and note any disagreements. This report will list both the positives and negatives in regard to the condition of your home.

 

For more information

See BBB tips on hiring a home inspector.

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