1. How many years have you been a full time inspector?
A minimum of 5 years of FULL TIME inspecting is a must. You don’t want a new guy or a part timer who is supplementing his income. You want an inspector who is a full time inspector and a passionate believer in their mission to protect homeowners. Home inspectors have a failure rate over 98% in the first 5 years. Do you want a seasoned veteran or a newbie who won’t be around later when you need them?
2. Are you a licensed contractor?
Ask if they carry a California General Contractors License (class B) and how long they have been licensed. This will assure you that your inspector has passed the State construction examination AND has overall experience in the fabrication of homes. But don’t take there word for it. You can run a name check and VERIFY at http://www.cslb.ca.gov/. Additionally, this site will also let you know their first year of licensing. (For original license date, look for expired licenses.)
3. Are you a CREIA Certified Inspector (CCI) member of the California Real Estate Inspectors Association (CREIA)?
CREIA Inspector members have passed a written knowledge examination that has a 50% failure rate. It is a tough examination. With a CCI, you know that their technical inspection knowledge is the industry standard in California. In addition, you know that these inspectors maintain their knowledge with at least 30 hours of continuing education each year. Again, don’t take their word for it, verify at http://www.creia.org/.
4. Are you a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI)?
ASHI is the national standard for the home inspection industry and is the accepted standard of most state licensing organizations. Make sure you inspector maintains this additional training and expertise for your protection. Again verify at http://www.ashi.org/.
5. What other Associations are you a member of?
CREIA and ASHI are a must, however the inspector may have additional certifications and memberships. But, be wary of an inspector who claims other associations are better. The hardest tests are the CREIA and ASHI examinations. Other associations will provide certification, even to children and pets! (My 5 year old and my Golden Retriever both have inspector certificates from “inspector associations.”)
6. Do you carry Errors and Omissions insurance?
We are all human and sometimes inspectors make mistakes. Make sure your inspector has the financial ability to fix those mistakes through appropriate insurance. Ask them to fax you the Declaration Page. For an example see ours at http://www.UPREI.com/forms/tabid/664/Default.aspx.
7. How many inspections have you performed in your career?
A full time inspector should be performing between 250-400 inspections a year. Any less and they are probably not full time, any more and their number is either a fabrication or they are rushing through the inspections. Again, don’t take their word for it. ASK to see verification. If they can’t produce easily, move on.
8. How detailed and thorough are your inspections?
Does the inspector just “take a look” or does he fully inspect all systems and components. The best tool to determine this is the inspectors report. Review the reports. Look at all the elements they inspect and report on. Does their report go thoroughly through every item?
9. Do you guarantee your work?
Do they promise to back their work unconditionally? The standard inspector guarantee is if you find something they missed during the inspection they, they will add it to the report. Few inspectors offer a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee. Fewer still, offer more. Make sure any inspector has a written guarantee to protect you and your client. See ours at http://www.uprei.com/Home/The200PercentGuarantee/tabid/664/Default.aspx.
10. How much is the inspection?
Take notice this is the last question? As it should be. The home inspection industry is rife with people who lure home buyers with the promise of a great inspection for a cheap price. The cheap guys are just that. They know the only thing they can compete with is price. So if an inspection is $200.00 cheaper, but the inspector’s lack of qualifications, experience and expertise cause him to miss 1 significant defect, how much have you really saved?