Portland Home Inspector And Portland Home Inspectors

How To Choose A Home Inspector

Make The Right Choice For Your Home Inspection

Research Helps

Are you in a situation where you need a Home Inspector and you want to find the best possible Home Inspector, but you just don't know how? Start out by asking for referrals from real estate brokers and lending institutions, like your bank or mortgage company. Also check with friends, family and work mates. You can also use online directories of Home Inspector organization such as American Society of Home Inspectors (AHSI) for a listing of home inspectors in your community.

Once you gather a list of names, contact the Home Inspection companies by phone to get more information. Go ahead and ask as many questions as you need answered; a quality Home Inspector will take the time to respond to your issues.

Choose A Home Inspector With Top Qualifications

Buying or selling a home is a serious business; a home purchase is one of the most important decisions you will make. Your Home Inspection is a significant piece of the buying/selling process. The best Home Inspector for you is one who has a great deal of experience who knows all the components of your home and how a home is constructed. Since much of your home is not visible, your Home Inspector should be experienced in home construction from the foundation to the roof so he/she fully understands the complexity of a home structure.

Experience Counts!

Find out how long the Home Inspector has been working the Home Inspection industry. Also, it's a good idea to find out how many Home Inspections he/she has actually performed - in person. You should feel comfortable with your Home Inspectors ability to do the job. The more experience, the better.

Get A Written Home Inspection Report

Make certain that your Home Inspector will prepare a thorough detailed written report. Do not accept anything less; for an example of a professional Home Inspection Report go to our Home Inspection Report page. Do not accept a quick checklist; a professional inspection report requires many pages of details.

A quality Inspection Report should consist of three primary topics:
• The Summary - A detailed discussion of the dwelling at the time of the inspection. It should include information about major home components.
• Maintenance Issues - This is a list of areas requiring normal maintenance. With this list is hand, you can address minor issues to prevent future problems.
• Major Repair Issues - This list contains issues that could cause major expense if not addressed. This list should be detailed so you know exactly where and what problems might arise. If you are the buyer, this information will help you estimate what repairs you may need to make after the sale or, repairs you may require from the seller.

Professional Affiliations & Certifications

Make certain that your Home Inspector is certified and maintains professional membership in national organizations like the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) and state organizations like Oregon Association of Home Inspectors (OAHI) and Oregon Real Estate Inspectors Association (OREIA). Make certain your Home Inspector can furnish a valid Home Inspector license for the state where your property is located.

Home Inspection Pricing

Home Inspection pricing varies throughout the country. Also, a quick and incomplete Home Inspection may save a few dollars, but in the long run, it can cost you major dollars in either home repairs, or perhaps a lost sale. Qualified licensed Home Inspectors in a community, generally charge similar prices. Always ask about pricing in advance, however, remember that your Home Inspector is a licensed professional and will charge accordingly.