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Choosing a Home Inspector

Once you’ve decided to hire a home inspector, you’ll need to decide who that inspector will be.  Unless you have prior experience with an inspector, you probably don’t know any.  In Georgia, home inspectors are not licensed or regulated.  Anyone is free to call themselves a home inspector and charge for it.  A personal referral may be the best way to find one. If you know someone who recently bought a home, ask them.  If you are working with a real estate professional, they probably have a suggestion.  If neither of these help, consider checking professional organizations.  The American Society of Home Inspectors (www.ASHI.org) is the largest and most recognized professional group of home inspectors in the country.   The Georgia Association of Home Inspectors (www.GAHI.com) is another, more local, professional organization of home inspectors.  Membership in these organizations requires much more than just paying annual dues.  Visit their websites to learn their membership requirements.   In the metropolitan Atlanta area, being a member of both of these organizations is a good indication of the inspector’s commitment to their professionalism and dedication to their trade. 

Getting names from your friends, real estate agents, or professional organizations is only the beginning, however.  You should interview them to make sure they meet YOUR standards. The 10 questions posed on GAHI’s website (www.gahi.com/10questions.html) are a good start in interviewing a home inspector.  Read their questions and recommendations and see how House Call Inspections stacks up.

  1. I, Wendell Dennison am the owner of House Call Inspections, Inc and am a fully credentialed member of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) and the Georgia Association of Home Inspectors (GAHI).
  2. I have my CABO One and Two Family Dwelling Certification.  Recent consolidations in the national building code organizations have changed the CABO designation to IRC (International Residential Code) Residential Inspector Certification.  I have both of these certifications (including the plumbing, electrical, and mechanical sections).
  3. I received my certification from the Southern Building Code Congress International (now part of the International Code Council).
  4. ASHI and GAHI both require a minimum of 20 hours of continuing education every year.  I always end up with more than the minimum.
  5. I have been inspecting homes since 1997.  I have personally inspected over 4,000 houses in that time.
  6. Depending on the house, my inspection will probably take two and one half to three hours.  Small condominiums will take less time.  Older, larger houses will take more time.
  7. It is in your best interest to be at the inspection, I encourage you to follow me around and see the same things I see with the exception of the roof, attic, and crawl space.  That way, when you are reading through the written report, you’ll better understand any problems.
  8. Speaking of the report, it is a computer-produced narrative report, usually 15-20 pages long.  Digital photos are included when it helps to clarify a problem.
  9. Sometimes you’ll have questions that you don’t think about until after you move in.  Feel free to call me.  I’m available to answer questions seven days a week day or night.  As long as I hear my phone ring I’ll answer it and if I don’t hear it leave a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
  10. Prices vary depending on the property being inspected and the type of inspection being performed.  Inspections generally start at $275.  Call me for an exact price. 

 

Now for a few other questions:

When you call to talk to an inspector, are you talking to the inspector or an office worker?   
Multi-inspector firms have to have someone to answer the phones to schedule appointments.  Talking to someone behind the desk is no substitute to talking to the inspector personally.
If you call a multi-inspector firm, who is going to do the inspection? 
Will they tell you about their most experienced inspector but send a barely qualified new inspector?  Working for a multi-inspector firm is how many inspectors gain experience.  Do you mind if they learn the inspection business at your expense?  At House Call, we have already gained our experience.
Do they receive compensation from anyone else?
Offering to have someone come in during the inspection (for a ‘home security’ check, for example) is a way for the inspector to earn extra money without telling you.  The home security company pays the inspector a referral fee in hopes of selling you their security package. Who is the inspector really committed to?  Also, do they compile information on your house and pass it on to anyone else for future salutations?  At House Call Inspections, you are the only person we are responsible to.
What else do you get along with your report?
Included with your report you will receive the book How To Operate Your Home.  This very informative 220-page manual is a great reference guide once you move in.

I feel confident in telling you that my combination of experience, ongoing support, and accessibility will give you the best value for your inspection investment.