Purchasing a home can be one of the most stressful and financially significant and emotional investments that people make in their lifetime. However, sometimes during the rush and excitement of finding the right home homebuyers make critical errors when selecting a home inspector. These mistakes when selecting an NJ home inspector can cost buyers thousands of dollars in repairs and headaches.
Issue number one is hiring the cheapest priced inspector
Shopping for price when speaking with home inspectors can be a dangerous game. Home inspections are not commoditized. One home inspector is not the same as another home inspector. Home inspections are professional service where experience thoroughness and skill will vary greatly in the profession. Many buyers will move toward the cheapest option without careful consideration of what they are getting for their hard-earned money. A $100-$200 savings up front can cost the buyer tens of thousands of dollars later if the inspector does not find major issues like foundation problems, roof leaks or water damage.
Experienced inspectors invest a lot of time in their continuing education, their certifications, high-end inspection tools such as thermal imaging cameras, their insurance and their software and reporting systems. All this backend stuff takes money to maintain and to keep up with. Also, more expensive home inspectors typically have more experience and the more experience a home inspector has the more likely they are to do a thorough and complete home inspection on your property and also find the major problems that exist potentially saving you a lot of money later. The last thing you want to do is find it you have larger problems down the line that could have been discovered but were not because you chose a budget option.
Hiring someone that they know
While it might feel comfortable to hire a friend or relative who does home inspections on the side or as a part-time business this can lead to conflict of interest and poor home inspection results. Often your friend or relative is not the best home inspector and you are shortchanging yourself in the process. While trying to be nice and hire somebody who you know but this can cost you a lot of money later. Instead, you should hire a home inspector as a serious business decision. Because purchasing a home now is a very expensive endeavor. Hire someone who can provide an objective, comprehensive and completely unbiased assessment of the home that you are thinking about purchasing even if it means delivering bad news to you.
Blindly accepting the agent’s recommendations
While many real estate agents want the best for their clients, not all do. Some agents prefer to work with less thorough New Jersey home inspectors who are considered easy home inspectors. These inspectors generally won’t jeopardize a sale by pointing out significant issues in the home or possibly playing word games to downplay some of the defects that exist or may not include all the defects that exist. These home inspectors unfortunately are out there, and they lower the reputation of the industry. Shortcuts cost buyers money. It is perfectly acceptable to consider your agent’s recommendation. But you must always do your own research and properly do your due diligence regarding that recommendation. Check the home inspector’s online reviews, read several sample home inspection reports and see if they have a reputation for thoroughness and have been in the business a long time. It is just too important to get this decision correct. The agent cannot dictate who to use for your home inspector, that is your decision and your choice alone. You have every right to choose the person who you want to hire regardless of the home inspector’s affiliations with the agent. Hiring an independent home inspector, someone who you interview and talk to yourself, takes away any potential conflict of interest issue with hiring a home inspector referred to you by your realtor or agent.
Hiring the first person that you talk to
The first inspector that you speak to may be perfectly fine but without comparing several options you won’t know if you are making the best choice. Homebuyers should take the time to interview at least three home inspectors. Ask detailed questions about their experience, equipment and their reporting style. Make sure you understand exactly what the inspection includes and what it doesn’t include. This process should be treated like hiring an employee because this is serious business and we’re talking about serious money.
Not asking for sample reports
One of the easiest and most often overlooked steps in hiring a home inspector is to review several home inspections reports. A good NJ home inspection report should be detailed, comprehensive and easy-to-read and understand and most importantly contain many, many photos. The descriptions of the defects should be in plain English and not jargon and provide the ability for a layperson to understand. You should not need an advanced degree to understand what a report is saying. If the report does not look comprehensive, it is quickly written or does not have photos that is a major red flag for you. The home inspection report is what you will use to potentially make life-changing financial decisions. It needs to be very comprehensive, complete and professional.
Hiring someone with little experience
Yes, everyone must start somewhere but when it comes to inspecting one of the largest financial investments, experience matters a lot. You must ask how long the home inspector has been in business and how many inspections they have completed. Home inspectors that have completed thousands upon thousands of home inspections are far more likely to catch the small, the medium and the large issues that exist in the home that you’re purchasing. A seasoned home inspector has seen many more defects and has worked through many potential home issues, much more than an inexperienced home inspector. A seasoned home inspector will have more experience with a wide range of home types such as older homes, new construction, flipped properties, historical houses, and then everything in between. It is crucial to hire a home inspector with many years of experience, and many thousands of homes successfully inspected.
Hiring a home inspector does not use thermal imaging
Thermal imaging is an important tool for home inspectors to use. It’s a noninvasive way to possibly detect hidden moisture, electrical problems, missing insulation and other defects. These issues aren’t always visible to the naked eye. Home inspectors who used thermal imaging in their home inspections are trained to use it properly and provide a higher level of insight into a home’s condition than if it is not used. If the home inspector that you choose does not use thermal imaging or actually charges extra for it you can be missing out on valuable information. Make sure you choose a home inspector who uses normal imaging during their home inspection.
Choosing a home inspector that works part time
most people wouldn’t choose a part-time surgeon or dentist to perform a root canal or surgery. The same principle applies with home inspections. Full-time home inspectors treat home inspection as a profession this is not a side hustle or a way to make pocket money. Professional full-time home inspectors make home inspections a full-time career are up to date on building safety standards, inspection techniques, and best practices. A part-time home inspector is likely not to have the same level of commitment, availability, or expertise as somebody who performs home inspections as full-time business. Refrain from hiring a part-time home inspector.
Not hiring a home inspector who is affiliated with ASHI or INTER-NACHI
Not hiring somebody who is affiliated with one of the two major home inspection Associations. Not all states regulate home inspectors and even in regulated states requirements can be minimal. Here in New Jersey, there are actual significant requirements for home inspector licensing. You should always verify that your home inspector carries the proper license, professional certifications and insurance. It is certainly advantageous to hire a home inspector who is a member of either ASHI or INTER-NACHI. If you hire a home inspector from one of the major associations at least you have some kind of minimal threshold that home inspector is upholding. To belong to and keep a membership in good standing in one or both of these Associations the home inspector needs to take yearly continuing education credits. The home inspector who is a member of one or both these Associations has made a commitment to further their career and continue to learn. Being a member of one of these associations does not guarantee home inspectors will be great but it does guarantee that some minimal threshold requirements are being met.
Not understanding what the inspection covers and does not cover
Buyers sometimes improperly think that a home inspection either passes or fails a home or is a guarantee against future problems. Neither one of these is correct. The home inspection is a snapshot of the homes visible condition on inspection day. Inspectors cannot predict the future or find every hidden problem, especially those inside walls, underground or inside not accessible areas. Buyers should read their state’s home inspection regulations to understand what a home inspection is and what it is not. A home inspection pre-inspection agreement will also describe what is included in the home inspection and what is not included. It is up to the buyer to make sure they read and understand these limitations.
Not attending your home inspection
if possible the buyer should attend their home inspection in person. Walking through the home and watching the home inspector provides valuable insights that you will not get from just reading the home inspection report. Attending the home inspection allows you to see the defects in person and allows you to create context around them to determine their severity. It is difficult to do this sometimes when just reading a home inspection report. Attending a home inspection allows you to ask questions and get clarity on the problems found in the home.
Ignoring red flags during the home inspection hiring process
If a home inspector is difficult to get on the phone, rushes you, seems bothered by your questions when interviewing them or pressures you to quickly schedule a New Jersey home inspection without explaining their services fully then you should move on. Good inspector’s welcome questions and take the time to educate their clients. The goal of a good home inspector is to provide the information that you need to make good, sound and educated decisions about the home that you are thinking about purchasing. Make sure to look for red flags when hiring a home inspector.
Conclusion
Selecting the right home inspector is one of the most important steps you and your family take when you are buying a home. Buyers should not rush this process, and don’t assume that all home inspectors offer the same level of service, have the same skills, or communication ability. By doing a complete due diligence process upfront buyers should thoroughly research and hire a qualified, experienced, full-time, and professional home inspector. Someone who is working for their interests. You will gain peace of mind and potentially save yourself significant dollars down the road. Your dream home deserves a great comprehensive home inspection. A top-notch home inspector is a key part of the home buying process.