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8 Essential Questions to Ask Your Home Inspector
Congratulations! You've decided to purchase a home. We all know that when purchasing a home, every detail is an important one. And choosing a home inspector is no exception. It's critical to choose an inspector the same way you've chosen a real estate professional - very carefully! You'll get a great educational experience when you hire a professional with the right credentials. Working with a home inspector isn't complicated; however, unless armed with the right questions to ask, you may get stuck with a less than capable individual. Here are my top 8 questions to ask your next home inspector: It's great that your inspector is a nice person, but what did they do before inspecting homes? Do they bring a wealth of knowledge about the construction trades, building, or remodeling? Or were they a hairdresser in a previous life? Don't get me wrong, I'm not picking on hairdressers - but that occupation certainly doesn't have anything to do with inspecting a house! This question may not be applicable in all states - there are states without licensing requirements for home inspectors. But if your state has some kind of requirements, you need to know what they are, and where you can go to verify that your chosen inspector has done what it takes to be state-compliant. Verification is essential, because many states have the capability to track continuing education of the inspector as well as complaints. This is critical! ASHI is the oldest, largest, and most respected organization for home inspectors in the country. They also maintain the highest standards and ethics for home inspectors. If your inspector is a member of this organization, you can be sure that they have passed The National Home Inspectors Exam, and they have completed all training and administrative requirements for membership. You can even verify membership status at www.ASHI.org. The inspector may be a member of other organizations, but none have requirements as strict as ASHI. And don't be fooled by those companies who claim to inspect to "ASHI standards" - if they aren't a bonifide ASHI member, find another inspector. Longevity gives comfort that the inspector will be with you in the future as new needs and issues arise. But if he's only done 12 inspections during his several years in business, that's not good! Your home buying decision is far too important to be a practice place for a part-time inspector. All homes have some systems and features in common, but a brand new home has risks and issues that differ from an historic beauty from the year 1855. Only someone who has walked the walk and crawled the crawl numerous times in similar homes can sleuth out those important items that are specific to your age, size, and type of home. Your inspector should be capable of going and willing to go into those places where others fear to tread! These are the places that must be seen to best protect the customer. There a times when those locations cannot be completely inspected due to physical risk to the inspector, risk to the equipment, or seasonal limitations. But for the inspector to not inspect those locations because he doesn't want to, is scared of the dark, or is too ample to fit into those spaces is unacceptable. Often, the report will contain descriptions of damage or defect in locations of the home that only the inspector was able to access, like roof-tops or crawl spaces. You will want pictures of these areas to make your understanding of the scope and location of the damage clear. It also makes repairs simpler to get estimated when a photograph is available. Often the buying decision is time critical, you want to be sure you will receive your completed report in time to read, review, and respond. The best companies can deliver the report to you on-site, right at the home, just as the inspection is completed. Finally, be sure to attend the home inspection. There is no substitute for the complete inspection experience; the report generated is only a small piece of the inspection. When you attend the inspection, see the process, ask questions, and become educated about your home, you'll gain great comfort and confidence in your buying decision. Good luck, and happy home buying! Wally Conway is President of Florida HomePro Inspections, and has recently written a book entitled "Secrets of the Happy Home Inspector", available at GoHomePro.com or Amazon.com. Wally's expertise and experience has been sought after by HGTV's "House Detective", the Florida Times Union, and many real estate boards and associations. As a speaker, writer, instructor, and host of The Happy Home Inspector radio show every Saturday at 3 PM on WOKV 690, Wally blends the right amount of up-to-date information with just the right amount of humor, insight, motivation, and real-world application. Visit http://www.WallyConway.com for more information!
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The Boston Globe Sculptor Real Estate on capital rotating to non-traditional assets Private Equity Real Estate | PERE See photos of this house for sale in East Falmouth Cape Cod Times CENTURY 21 REAL ESTATE CELEBRATES NEXT GENERATION OF INDUSTRY LEADERS WITH 2025 The Next21 HONOREE LIST PR Newswire Midland County real estate sales for Feb. 17-27 Midland Daily News Real estate transactions sungazette.com Wolfe family consolidates real estate operations under Journal Capital Columbus Jewish News February 2026 Real Estate Sales The Georgetowner East Cobb Real Estate: Fox Hollow home sells for $540K East Cobb News Climate Risk Reshapes Real Estate Investment Strategy wealthmanagement.com APG shifts focus to core real estate in Asia Pacific Private Equity Real Estate | PERE Former APG head of APAC real estate joins Hongkong Land Private Equity Real Estate | PERE Investor Intentions: ART to double its real estate program in next five years Private Equity Real Estate | PERE BGO on Japan’s corporate real estate coming into focus Private Equity Real Estate | PERE Rochester real estate agency rebrands to Century 21 Apex Rochester Business Journal Why Good Real Estate Deals Are Failing in 2026 Passive Income MD Real estate transfers Findlay News | The Courier Real estate firm shifts into selling mode after years of acquisitions Crain's Cleveland Business Florida Trend Real Estate Florida Trend Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. Declares Cash Dividend of $0.72 per Common Share for 1Q26 Yahoo Finance Sisters Launch Power Real Estate List Los Angeles Business Journal The future of Houston real estate has entered the chat Houston Agent Magazine Health care tenants drive growth as Northeast Ohio retail real estate struggles Crain's Cleveland Business Habi Acquires Pulppo to Expand Leadership in Latin America's Residential Real Estate Market galvnews.com Commercial Real Estate Roundup for Feb. 27, 2026 Idaho Business Review Local real estate broker speaks on 30-year fixed rate mortgage dropping to 5.98% – RochesterFirst RochesterFirst This $1.2M Urbandale home offers 6 bedrooms, pickleball court The Des Moines Register Sandi Wolchansky Silk Named Executive Vice President of Real Estate at MassDevelopment Boston Real Estate Times Artificial intelligence will not replace real estate agents — it will divide them Chicago Agent Magazine GMW Real Estate Report: Feb. 20-26, 2026 — Market Moves on Trio of Prime Properties Good Morning Wilton Habi Acquires Pulppo to Expand Leadership in Latin America's Residential Real Estate Market mykxlg.com Commercial real estate firms Virginia Business Nordblom Proposes 103-Unit Apartment Project in Brookline’s Coolidge Corner Boston Real Estate Times CBRE hosts annual industrial real estate event El Paso Inc. Policy uncertainty halts Boston real estate investments Latest news from Azerbaijan Real Estate Is The Easiest And Safest Way To Profit From AI Financial Samurai AI vs. agents: Is this the beginning of the end? Inman Real Estate News Alexandria Real Estate declares $0.72 quarterly dividend Investing.com Lisa McAteer Named Best Real Estate Agent at Quality Business Awards 2026 The Clarion-Ledger Catch Up With Compass, Keller And The Commission Question Inman Real Estate News Jacksonville real estate firm generates $319M in client profits with strategy tied to urban core transformation The Business Journals Twenty Years In, Just Getting Started: Art Mazzei and the Next Chapter of Addison Wolfe Real Estate Bucks Happening Ireland's Apartment Rental Crisis Deepens in 2026 The World Property Journal Real estate transactions — Feb. 19-25 Steamboat Pilot Bay Area housing and real estate news The Mercury News Denver area leads country for decline in starter home prices The Denver Post Commercial Real Estate Acquisition Loan Program spotlight: Ready for the World Academy City of Philadelphia (.gov) How a European agent won one of Hong Kong’s most exclusive luxury flat listings South China Morning Post After 8 months in limbo, displaced NC families finally return home post-Chantal Raleigh News & Observer $1.4 Million Homes in California The New York Times What $1 million can buy you in Tampa from January? Tampa Bay Times Central Mass. real estate transfers, Sunday, March 1 Worcester Telegram Mie Kim, CCIM, MA, Displays Excellence in Real Estate 24-7 Press Release Newswire IPS 2026 Reinforces Dubai’s Position as a Leading Global Hub for Real Estate Investment Yahoo Finance UK Protecting the US Senate's home-state prerogative in land use fights is essential for South Dakota South Dakota Searchlight Quad Cities brokerage nominated for international real estate award The Quad-City Times Baron Real Estate Fund Q4 2025 Portfolio Activity Seeking Alpha Why Redfin may exclude WA properties from these new listings The Seattle Times Stonepeak makes investment in Aura Holdings Institutional Real Estate, Inc. |
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