1. Do Your Research
The first step in choosing a building inspector is to do your research and make sure you are hiring someone who is qualified and has a favorable track record. You can ask for recommendations from friends, family, and your real estate agent or realtor.
Once you have a list of names, look them up on the American Society of Home Inspectors website to make sure they are verified and certified. Choosing the wrong inspector can be a costly mistake you don’t want to make.
2. Conduct a Pre-Inspection
You’d be amazed at how much you can find out about a property simply by looking.
Conducting a pre-inspection is a great idea because you’ll come to the actual inspection with a better understanding of what areas may need to be looked at. Take a look around and note anything that seems to be broken or missing. Check all the areas you can access. Flip all the light switches and take a look at the electrical panel for any missing or damaged wires.
You can ask your inspector to take a look at anything you feel needs extra attention during the inspection.
3. Attend the Inspection
While most people are great about hiring a building inspector, many don’t show up for the inspection. You want to make sure you are getting what you paid for and all areas of the property are being properly inspected. Show up so you can see with your own eyes what is going on with the property you are planning to purchase.
4. Ask Questions
Unless you are a seasoned pro at building inspections, chances are you’ll have a few questions to ask during the process. Most inspectors won’t have a problem with you asking a few questions here and there, as long as you are respectful of their time.
If something doesn’t look right or you are not understanding a conclusion that has been drawn, ask the question so you can have all the information you need to make your decision.
5. Take the Report Seriously
Finally, you need to take the building inspection services final report seriously as this will save you the most money in the future. What may look like a small problem that can be taken care of later, could actually be something that will cause a large and costly problem in the near future.
Comb through your report and consider every suggestion when negotiating with the seller or making repairs to the building.
Saving Money on Building Inspection Costs: The Bottom Line
By following the advice in this guide, you’ll be able to save on building inspection costs and get a quality inspection that will serve you well in the future.
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