How to Choose a Home Inspector

A professional home inspection is an important part of the home buying process. Good home inspections can save you money on costly repairs and provide you with valuable insight on maintaining your home. Unfortunately, not all home inspectors are created equal, so choosing the right one is crucial.

A quick Google search for Jacksonville FL Home Inspectors will bring up numerous options, which can quickly become overwhelming. We’ve put together a few tips to help you choose a home inspector that you will be happy with and trust to provide you with important information about your future home.

1. Check credentials

It is important to verify that the home inspector is properly licensed and insured. The State of Florida requires proper licensing for home inspectors. You can search licensees online through the Florida Department of Business and Profession Regulation at this link. It is also good idea to choose a home inspector that has certification from at least one of the major professional associations.

2. Ask around

It’s likely that some of your friends, family members or coworkers have purchased homes and had them inspected. Ask them about their experience with their home inspector or home inspection company. Was the inspector thorough? Did they provide a detailed inspection report in a timely manner?

Follow up those recommendations with a quick online search of the company to see if other’s experiences and reviews are inline with their suggestions.

3. Request a sample home inspection report

Home inspectors provide a report to their clients once the inspection is complete. The quality of the report and the details contained within it are an important part of the home inspection process. The report should contain high quality photos and video (as needed) and be laid out in a manner that is easy to navigate and understand. Nobody wants to use blurry, low resolution photos to negotiate potential repairs. Inspection reports that are difficult to understand or don’t contain a certain level of information and detail may not be very useful to the buyer.

Buyers can typically request a sample inspection report from the home inspector. Be wary of home inspectors that will not provide a sample report.

4. See if you can attend the home inspection

Attending the home inspection is not required, however, it is highly recommended. The home inspector can go over all of the findings at the end of the inspection and provide valuable information about the home and its components. Talking about and seeing issues first-hand can help to eliminate any confusion or concern. It is also a good time to familiarize yourself with the layout of the home and take any necessary measurements to plan for new appliances or room layouts.

Sometimes it’s not possible for you to attend the inspection. If that is the case, make sure to choose an inspector with detailed reports and information about the home. It is also important to choose an inspector that is willing to answer any questions you may have after receiving the home inspection report.

5. Find out what the inspection includes

Ask the inspector what is included in their home inspections and how long they think it will take. Knowing exactly what is included is important to help eliminate any confusion or questions that may arise once the report is received. Most home inspections on newer, average sized homes will take 2.5 – 4 hours. Older homes will typically take longer, as will larger homes compared to smaller ones. Regardless of the size or age, the home inspection should include the items below:

• Roof
• HVAC Systems
• Attic, Insulation & Ventilation
• Plumbing System
• Foundation
• Electrical System
• Exterior (Doors, Windows, Siding, Soffit & Fascia)
• Patios, Balconies & Decks
• Driveways & Walkways
• Interior (Doors, Floors, Walls, Ceilings & Stairs)
• Structural Components
• Fireplace & Chimney
• Vegetation & Surface Drainage

Additional services, such as pool/spa inspections and insurance inspections, may be available through the inspection company and will also add to the overall inspection time.

6. Price is important

The price of the inspection is important, but should not be the deciding factor. Make sure you are comparing apples to apples. Some home inspection companies charge additional fees for items that others include in their inspections for free. A more thorough, higher-rated inspector is worth the extra money in the end. There is nothing wrong with shopping around to save some money, just make sure to hire a trusted home inspector that you can rely on.