Today I’d like to discuss some things you might not necessarily know about home inspections, even though they are every bit as valuable as choosing the right home builder.

Make sure you hire an American Society of Home Inspectors (or ASHI) certified inspector (not just an associate!) and make sure he isn’t a franchise owner or employee. Go here to find a listing of professional home inspectors in your area.

DON’T GO WITH THE LOWEST OFFER! I cannot stress this enough. A cheap inspector is not properly trained to identify defects and what you’ll get instead is a report that overlooks many of the things you’ll NEED to know about a house YOU’LL be living in.

By law, every home inspector must be insured for at least $300,000 for errors, omissions, and general liability for home inspections. It is an enormous risk to hire an inspector who isn’t properly insured.

Before you hire a home inspector, request a copy of a sample report. Make sure the report is detailed, narrative (not a check list), comprehensive, and complete with photographs.