Choose A Home Inspector Wisely

Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you may ever make.  You think you’ve found the home of your dreams, but is it really?  Do you know enough about the structural components that make up your new home to know if there is underlying damage?  Do you know how to operate the major systems of the house properly (heating, electrical, plumbing, etc.)  and are you trained to know if they were installed properly?

Most consumers rely on the expert advice of a professional home inspector to make sure that the home you are buying is free from structural issues and that you will be familiar with all its working systems.  Finding a competent home inspector is not as easy as letting your “fingers do the walking”.  Even “Googling” can only get you so far.

Home inspectors must now be licensed by the state in which they are providing services, and more states are in the process of passing legislation for professional licensing.  Home inspectors may belong to associations like NAHI, ASHI or NACHI most of which have minimum standards that are required for membership, but they do not regulate the industry and in some states anyone can call themselves a home inspector just by hanging out a sign.

In May of 2001, Massachusetts enacted new laws for home inspectors, requiring them to meet minimum standards for each home inspection performed.  They must also pass an exam, carry adequate insurance and participate in continuing education in order to renew a license.  The Board Of Licensure is also responsible for answering consumer complaints and providing appropriate measures against inspectors who violate ethics rules or perform below the standards that are set.  Slowly, the state is making progress in weeding out incompetence.

One of the other changes made in 2001 pertaining to home inspectors was to prohibit real esate agents, other than buyer’s agents, from referring home inspectors to buyers.  This was enacted in order to avoid consumers from receiving services from an inspector who might be thought of as “easy”, one who wouldn’t be apt to “kill the deal”.

If you live in a state where anyone can perform an inspection without a whole lot of training, be careful.  A trusted attorney, friends or neighbors who have bought a home may be able to give you a recommendation. As a local for-sale-by-owner service, we provide a direct link to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts website where buyers are able to look up inspectors by name, current licensing information, or area serviced as well as check to see if any complaints have been lodged against them.

A few years ago, a home inspector in Massachusetts formed IHINI, an organization dedicated to help consumers avoid the risk of self-interest and to learn more about the inspection process.  There is a lot of good consumer information on this website and should be mandatory reading for anyone before hiring a home inspector.