Whether you have experience in home buying or you are a first time home buyer, hiring a home inspector will be a consideration during the purchase process. As a home buyer, you may receive guidance from your real estate professional regarding the value of a home inspection and a recommendation for an inspector in your area. Before you follow through on a recommendation, know that you are in a position to choose your home inspector.

Home inspector qualifications and experiences are not equal, so be certain to determine whether the home inspector you are considering is a true professional. Some inspectors conduct home inspections as a part time endeavor. Others do a disservice to the home inspection profession by providing sub-par inspections with vague and incomplete reports to their clients. A home inspector is employed to protect you, the client. Knowing that a home is likely to be one of your single largest investments, remember that you have the choice in determining who will be inspecting your future home for thousands of items that should be addressed for safety and proper function.

When you conduct your own research for home inspectors, be certain to look for verifiable experience in the building industry. If your home inspector has substantial experience in construction design and comprehensive knowledge of construction principles, he or she will be able to identify the maintenance items that should be addressed or safety items that need attention. An inspector without significant experience in the fundamental aspects of construction will be conducting a superficial inspection, which will not alert you to items that you need to be aware of before agreeing to the home purchase.

Secondly, determine whether your inspector is certified by an accrediting organization such as the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors – Al Bolt. An inspector that has taken the time to attain certification by an accrediting organization understands the confidence that certification conveys to his clients. Certifications prove that a home inspector has passed exams that contain criteria for ethical code and standards of practice for conducting inspections. However, certifications alone do not guarantee that your inspector will conduct a comprehensive inspection. As a prospective homeowner, understand that hiring an inspector without experience in the building industry and certification from a leading accrediting organization is a risk. Certification is not a substitute for verifiable experience. However, certification is an important endorsement for any reputable inspector.

Lastly, an inspector that is dedicated to ongoing education in the field of home inspections will provide you with a better inspection report than someone who does not devote time to learning about changes in the construction industry. Building practices continue to evolve, and hiring a home inspector that is aware of changes in building practices will ensure that you are getting a quality home inspection.

Remember that your best chance of acquiring a complete inspection and a detailed and understandable report of the inspection findings is to take the time to research whether you will be hiring an inspector with significant and relevant experience in the building industry, certification by a leading accrediting organization such as the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors, and a commitment to ongoing education in the home inspection field.

You are the one making the investment, and you need to know that your home inspector is working for you, his client, to determine whether your future investment contains risks that you need to be aware of before signing the final document at your local title company. You have the final word in whether you hire a true professional home inspector, or an inspector that is just looking around.