Choosing a Home Inspector

Most purchasers of real estate know that you should get a Licensed Home Inspector to review your property and prepare a written report of the property condition, noting any malfunctiions, defects, or necessary repairs.

All too often, however, Buyers permit their real estate agent to choose the Inspector for them…but did you know that it’s better for the Buyer to choose?

Certainly, a real estate agent may offer a list of suggested vendors, but Texas agents are precluded from recommending (or selecting) particular vendors on behalf of their clients.

Gather names of licensed inspectors from your agent, friends, or other sources including the Yellow Pages and online directories, and make the choice so that it is uniquely yours.  Check their credentials on the TREC (Texas Real Estate Commission) website, and talk with them about the scope of their inspection services so you are fully informed as to what they will and will not inspect.

Most Buyers are surprised to learn that inspectors don’t check EVERYTHING in a property… rather they work off of a proscribed checklist of items to determine if items are operating properly at the time of the inspection.

Ensure that your inspector clearly defines the scope of work, and fully explains any defects noted during the review.  It will then be up to you to decide if there are items worthy of further negotiation with the seller.