Choosing The Best Home Inspector
Greg makes a living from flipping homes an Greg makes a living from flipping homes and is selling his next home via online classified ads. He’s never been completely satisfied with the home inspectors he’s hired in the past, so he is on a quest to find the best home inspection company in Atlanta, GA. He wants to find someone competent and someone he can trust.
After searching for ten days, he gets a message from an inspector in Atlanta. He finally gets a hold of her and starts asking about her background and experience as an inspector. She tells him that she’s licensed by the state of Georgia with an A+ rating and has done inspections for 14 other real estate agencies over the last five years in Atlanta. But what caught his attention was when she told him that she’d done over 1,000 inspections. It wasn’t surprising considering the number of houses in Atlanta, but what got him was how well she knew the city and how she had inspected so many homes. Even after having all this knowledge, he isn’t sure if he has finally found the right home inspector for the job.
So what is it that one should consider when selecting a home inspector? The number of inspections under their belt, the company they come from, or their educational background? There is no definite answer to this, but there is specific knowledge you should be equipped with when searching for the best home inspector for your home.
Difference Between Using a Licensed Expert or an Outsourced Home Inspection Company
When hiring a home inspector, it is essential to understand the difference between an independent contractor and a licensed professional. An independent contractor might not have any formal training or education in their field, although this isn’t always the case. A licensed professional has been certified through extensive training, education, and testing. They pass written exams and have a comprehensive background check by the company that hires them. They may work for multiple companies simultaneously without passing any licensing test or certification. These differences between a licensed professional and an independent contractor do not mean that an independent contractor is not good at his job. Still, the experience of a home inspector who has worked with a professional company is second to none in the long run.
Qualities of The Best Home Inspectors in Atlanta, GA
Choosing a home inspector for your next home inspection can be challenging. There are many factors to consider when looking for the best home inspector. License, online reviews, asking friends, and checking the home inspector’s online presence are critical factors. There are two types of home inspectors: certified and non-certified. Certified Atlanta inspectors have gone through more training than non-certified inspectors.
First and foremost, you want an inspector that is well-trained and experienced. This person should have a minimum of three years of experience. They should be certified by a reputable agency such as the American Society of Home Inspectors or the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. It is also essential that they have undergone training on properly documenting their findings to provide you with proof if needed in case something goes wrong during construction or renovation.
If you are looking for a home inspector, you should ensure that they have a valid license and ask them to provide you with a sample report. You can also check online reviews to see what others think of them.
Difference Between A Home Inspector and a Buyer's Agent
A home inspector looks for defects in the property, and although he plays an essential role in the buyer and sellers’ decision-making process, he has nothing to do with the actual transaction. A buyer’s agent is an individual who is licensed by the state and has experience in real estate transactions. They will help you find a new home and negotiate on your behalf with the seller. For instance, if you are searching for a listed home for $250,000 but offer $230,000, then the buyer’s agent will work with the listing agent to get you that home. A buyer’s agent will also be able to point out any flaws in a property that might otherwise go unnoticed and help you determine whether or not it is an acceptable purchase.
Learning To Evaluate Home Inspectors
If you have the following questions lined up for your home inspector, you should be able to get to know them better and make the selection process for the best home inspectors in Atlanta, GA, easier.
The following are things for you to consider when looking for a home inspector:
1. Inspector’s scope of their work.
2. Reports that they provide.
3. Time spent in the inspection field.
4. Third-party verification of their findings.
5. Inspector’s training and experience.
6. Warranties Offered.
7. Provision of ongoing reports when requested.
8. Availability for frequent inspections, such as at least once per month, when you need them most.
9. Reputation among previous clients
10. Details of Licenses obtained by the state
11. Hiring Costs
Things Credible Inspectors Don't Do
There are certain limitations that home inspectors need to follow. Most home inspectors are not experts in architecture and building codes. The credibility of a home inspector is determined by the scope of his work, his expertise, and what he does with that information.
A credible home inspector will not comment on the aesthetics or structural integrity of a building without proper qualifications and knowledge. In addition, there are other things an inspector cannot do. These include the following:
- Home inspectors are unqualified to do repairs, and trying to get the job done through them could potentially damage your property. A home inspector should never refer repairs to a homeowner or have them done by a company they own. They cannot legally repair a home that they have inspected. If the homeowner is looking for suggestions, they should always refer a third party for the job.
- They will not suggest repairs or work in the house to get more jobs. This means an inspector cannot suggest an unnecessary repair so that he has another opportunity to inspect the property after the repair work has been done.
- A home inspector should not give the buyer any feedback on the home’s condition, such as if it would be worth more or less money. This can lead to a conflict of interest and cause problems for both parties involved.
- A credible home inspector should also not offer any personal opinions about the house or its value or recommend how it should be renovated.
- A home inspector should not take a glance and estimate the life expectancy of systems. They should research, conduct thorough inspections, and ensure they are not wrong in their estimations. They should be able to produce a comprehensive and accurate inspection report.
Some people might not realize how important it is to do your research on a Home Inspection Company in Georgia. You should always be patient and do your due diligence before deciding on a home inspector. After doing your research, you should check their reviews and ratings on sites like Yelp or HomeAdvisor. If the inspector has a lot of five-star reviews, there is a good chance that they are reputable.
