When shopping around for a home inspector, there are a few questions that are
very important to ask, besides the price. Be wary of inspectors that
are much cheaper than others- you get what you pay for when it comes to home
inspections! Since buying a home is the largest investment you will make
in your lifetime, you want a qualified, experienced inspector to guide you
through the process - not a brand new guy willing to offer cheap inspections to
gain more business. There is no state licensing for home inspectors (in
Georgia), so
just about anyone can sell home inspection services, regardless of how qualified
they really are.
Questions to ask when shopping for a home inspector:
How long has the inspector or inspection company been in business?
GHIS has been in business since 1980
and has performed over 15,000 home inspections in the Augusta area.
Is the inspector
ASHI certified?
All of our inspectors are ASHI certified.
Is the inspector licensed for South Carolina?
South
Carolina does have state licensing requirements, so this is a must for the
Augusta area where some houses can have SC addresses.
Does the inspector or inspection company give
computerized inspection reports?
GHIS gives computer generated
reports immediately after the inspection.
Is the inspector or inspection company fully insured to protect you?
GHIS carries
general liability, Errors and Omissions and workman's compensation insurance. Click to learn about all three.
Does the inspector or inspection company meet the insurance requirements of
your builder? (applies to new homes)
GHIs generally meets or exceeds all the home inspection requirements
set forth by builders. These requirements typically include general
liability insurance, workmans' comp, ICC and ASHI certifications, and a business license.
Here are a few
"red flags" to be aware of when
shopping for an inspector:
The inspector's price is significantly below
several other inspectors you have called.
A very low price generally indicates a
low level of experience. Don't take this chance when it comes to your
home.
The inspector charges by the hour.
An
inspector who charges by the hour will take significantly longer to inspect the
same house as an inspector who charges by the size and type of home being
inspected.
An inspector who is not insured, or tells you
insurance is not important.
Insurance can
be costly for an inspection firm, so many new companies, or smaller companies,
skip it. But it protects you, and protects the inspector as well.
An inspector who sends you to voice mail.
Many inspectors work in the field, and answer
calls between inspections. That's great for them, but when you have a
question or concern that arises after the inspection that requires immediate
attention, you will need someone to answer the phone. Time is of the
essence in real estate transactions, and you want someone who can respond
immediately.
An inspector who takes your call while he is
currently on an inspection.
If he's
talking to you while doing someone else's inspection, surely he will be talking
to another client when he's on your inspection. You will not get the
attention to detail you deserve if your inspector is on the phone with another
client.
A company that has different price structures
for different inspectors.
If a company
quotes you one price for an inspector with certain credentials, and a lower
price for an inspector with fewer credentials or experience, this should raise a
red flag to you. You want an inspection firm that hires ONLY the highest
qualified inspectors for every inspection, giving you the best level of service
each and every time.
What is the price of the inspection based on?
Inspection prices are based on several factors
including the square footage of the home, what it is built on (basement, slab, or crawl
space), the age of the home, and the location of the home.
Would you like a price quote?
Call us at 706-860-0797
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