Searching for a quality home inspector can be daunting if you don't know what to look for. Since some states don't require certifications or standards of practice, it's important to know the quality of work you're going to get.
Not every home inspector is trained and certified and may lack the practical knowledge to pinpoint problems and produce a high-quality inspection and report.
Make sure you are getting the most complete and thorough home inspection possible. Take a look at the list below to guide you in your search for a quality home inspector.
Here are the 3 Main Things Every Quality Home Inspector Should Have
1 - E&O Insurance: Why Is This So Important?
E&O insurance, otherwise known as error and omissions, or professional liability, helps protect you as the client in case defective components of the home are missed during the inspection. With the lack of certification requirements and standards of operations in some states, like Missouri for example, it is almost guaranteed that some items may be missed. This can be detrimental if it is a defective major component of the home. The expense to repair or replace them can break the bank. Eagle i Home Inspections not only carries E&O insurance but also participates in the InterNACHI Buy-Back Guarantee program. If an inspector misses an item covered in InterNACHI's SOP, InterNACHI will buy back your home. For more information about the program please visit our other blog post here.
2 - Certification: Why Is A Certification Important If It's Not Required?
Even though some states, like Missouri, do not require home inspectors to be certified, it's a good idea to find one who is. If just anyone can become a home inspector, you will never know the quality of inspection you will receive until after it's finished. Someone that is certified brings many hours of training and education to the table, this helps ensure that you receive a thorough and complete inspection.
Not all certification schools are created equally, however. Finding a home inspector who is InterNACHI certified means they received education and training from a US Department of Education Accredited Home Inspector College. InterNACHI has a very extensive SOP and has set a higher standard in the inspection industry. Eagle i Home Inspections carries the InterNACHI certification which means you will get one of the most thorough inspections available in the industry.
3 - SOP: Why Is An SOP Important?
An SOP is a Standard Operating Procedure. The InterNACHI SOP is 18 pages long and one of the most extensive SOPs in the industry. An SOP determines everything that the home inspector will inspect, what to do to inspect it, and how to report it. Having a standard operating procedure guides the home inspector during the inspection and ensures their client will receive a thorough and effective inspection report. A complete and thorough report will save you money in the long run. If something during the inspection is missed that needs to be fixed or replaced, it can cost clients up to tens of thousands of dollars.
Some Other Important Things To Look For In A Home Inspector:
Some other important things to look for when searching for a home inspector is to check to make sure they have a website. Is their website organized and professional? If not, this can be an indication of how organized and professional their inspection will be. Does their website have an online scheduler? They don't necessarily need one, but for the convenience of the clients, it is nice to be able to schedule a home inspection online.
What kind of inspection reporting software do they use? Not all software generates an easy-to-read and understandable inspection report. Inspector Toolbelt's inspection software creates one of the easiest-to-understand reports in the industry. It also features a simple-to-use tool for realtors or sellers to quickly and easily create a repair list.
Keep all of these things in mind when searching for a home inspector. Eagle i Home Inspections is InterNACHI certified, and follows their SOP to a T. We also use Inspector Toolbelt to perform our inspections and generate our reports, so you know you will receive a top-notch report. Schedule your home inspection with Eagle i Home Inspections today.
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