For most people, the purchase of a home is the largest investment they’ll ever make. Getting an independent, expert opinion on the operability of the structure and its systems is a no-brainer. But not all home inspectors have the same experience, training, or certifications – So how do you make sure you’ve hired the right person for the job?

When shopping for a home inspector, it’s vital that you do your homework and interview each inspector based on the checklist below.

1. Do not price shop. When hiring a home inspector, you’re basically hiring an advocate with your interests in mind to give you their expert opinion on the home’s condition. With that in mind, making sure that you’re hiring an inspector with plenty of knowledge and training means not shopping for one by price alone. Training, certifications, and continuing education don’t come cheap to the inspectors and therefore, their expertise isn’t going to be cheap either. When it comes to home inspections – as with most things – you get what you pay for.

2. Are they licensed? All Illinois inspectors MUST be licensed by OBRE. Ask them what their state license number is, it should be a number like "050.0000xxx". Then look them up on this OBRE Lookup website. Practicing as a home inspector without a license is punishable to $10,000 fine and/or possible imprisonment.

3. Are they full members? The better inspectors have joined an association. However, not all associations are created equal. The best associations are ASHI and NAHI. These associations have “candidate” and “associate” members that basically mean that the inspector has not met the requirements to be a full member (testing and 250 inspections).  Ask what additional certifications the inspector holds and then research them as well. All Home Check inspectors have advance college degrees and significant construction experience BEFORE they are a Home Check inspector.  We recommend hiring a full member, not a candidate.

4. What did they do before? Experience is almost everything in this business.  Some inspectors may not tell you the truth about their real backgrounds before being an inspector.  Some have been taxi drivers, police officers, or restaurant cooks. There's nothing wrong with these careers, they just don't prepare you for understanding construction.  With most inspectors being trained a total of five days, how could they possibly know what they are doing?  Look for inspectors that were in construction before becoming an inspector.  Look for someone with a bacholars degree or higher who can communicate well to attorney and insurance people.  You never know if you will need his competency in court someday.

5. How many inspections do they do a year?  The best inspectors are those that are busy.  The average full time inspector does 250 inspections per year, look for someone who does 300+ per year.  Our inspectors average 350-500 per year.

6. What kind of report do you get?  Some inspectors have a complicated check box report, some hand you a preprinted notebook with handwritten notes.  The better reports are personalized computer generated reports with summary pages.  The best reports include photos and are printed on-site or emailed the same day.

7. Are they insured?  A professional inspector should be insured for “errors and omissions”, commonly called E&O insurance.  This means that if the inspector misses something during the inspection, you can file a claim against that insurance for the repairs of the problem.  Home Check America has never had a claim against its E & O insurance and we have never been sued.

8. Make your own decision.  Real estate agents and other professionals may make recommendations on what home inspector to hire.  Besides the obvious conflict of interest issues, a recommendation does not necessarily guarantee that the inspector is the best choice.  Make your own decision based on your research.  Many agents and attorneys do refer Home Check America because they have had exceptional results with them, but again, it is your decision, not theirs.

9. Will they estimate the life span and cost of repairs?  Many inspectors will not do this for liability reasons.  However Home Check gives you a list of the average lifespans of all your normal household appliances and systems.  We also give you a ball park idea of the cost of repairs when you ask.

10. Do they offer Radon and Mold testing?  Hire those that do, otherwise you may be coming back out to the house to pay someone else with additional service charges.  Home Check offers both, and more.

11. Do they have live phone answering and help?  Most inspectors forward their business phone to their cell phone.  Maybe you get them, maybe you don't.  Then the phone tag game begins.  When you finally do get them, they may not be able to talk.  Home Check has knowledgable and helpful office staff that answer the phone seven days per week, 363 days a year from 8 am until 7 pm.  We take off Christmas and Easter each year to spend with our families.

1-866-245-4663