Home Inspectors - What Every Buyer Needs to Know:

If you're buying a resale home and don't want to inherit the seller's headaches, a home inspection is a must. Usually the offer to purchase is conditional on the buyer being satisfied with the inspection - so if the house fails the grade, there is no deal. Home inspectors examine the major systems in the house - the plumbing, electrical, heating, roof, foundation and insulation - giving the buyer a written report. The cost? Several hundred dollars, a small price to pay for the information provided.

But there is one problem with the home inspection industry: it is unlicensed, ungoverned and unregulated. Anyone can establish a home inspection business with absolutely no training or credentials. So before hiring a home inspector, check out his or her background and expertise as carefully as the inspector will check out the house. Ask friends, family or your Realtor for a referral - we only recommend certified home inspectors and would be happy to refer one to you. And make sure the inspector has liability insurance, just in case a mistake is made; such as a hole in the roof or a leaky basement being over-looked.