Congratulations! You have made an offer on a house and it has been accepted....now what?! The next step is to hire a licensed home engineer to perform the home inspection to make sure you are buying a house free of significant defects. A good home inspector is not going to be an alarmist, but will rather point out all the facts objectively. I have worked with many inspectors throughout my career, and the best ones will not only thoroughly inspect the home, but will teach you about all the systems within it, how they function, proper maintenance and their typical life expectancy. Buying a home is a pretty significant investment, and you should know how it works!
Below are nine things to consider when hiring a home inspector:
1. Do they have a current license, and do they carry errors and omissions insurance?
2. Do they have a membership to a to a professional home inspector association?
3. What specifically will the inspection report cover?
4. What type of guarantees to do they offer for their work?
5. How much will the inspection cost and how long will it take?
6. What type of report do they provide and how long will it take to receive?
7. Do they provide a termite inspection?
8. Will you be able to be present during the inspection? (If they say no, that is not a good sign!)
9. Can they provide 2-3 recent references?
Although home inspections are not required, I can not stress enough the importance of knowing the condition of the home prior to purchasing it. Trust me, it will be money well spent in the end! If you have any other questions regarding home inspections or Long Island real estate don't hesitate to ask. I LOVE talking houses!!
