FAQs answers frequently asked questions from anyone about home inspectors and home inspections in the Houston area. If you have a question please give us a call or fill out the form on our CONTACTS PAGE.
FAQs about how to choose an inspector. There are literally hundreds of home inspectors in any given area of Texas to choose an inspector from at any given time. Perhaps your Real Estate Agent gave you a short list of her favorite inspectors, or you got a name from a friend. But is that person the best fit for your project? So how do you know which one is qualified to do the job you expect? The short answer is to interview them just as you would any other contractor.
The first question you should ask is how long they have been inspecting. According to LLC Buddy, the typical home inspector stays at their employment for 1-2 years, or a percentage of 26%, after reviewing the resumes of 2,675 home inspectors. Do you feel comfortable hiring an inspector fresh out of school who doesn’t have anyone checking over his work? Next you will want to know the inspector’s certification.
All inspectors are required by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) to follow the Standards of Practice. The SOPs are the MINIMUM standard for the industry. The inspector is free to exceed those standards only when qualified to do so. InterNACHI is the premier organization for inspectors and provides excellent education and certification in all necessary fields. TPREIA is the local Texas organization and has regular meets where inspectors can gain continuing education and keep up with advanced industry standards.
You can check the inspector’s credentials at the Texas Real Estate (TREC) website where you can see the last 10 yrs of education and any disciplinary actions of an the inspector’s stats. TREC requires at least 16 hrs. per year.
Please give us a call when your’e ready to schedule an inspection. We will give you the best possible price.
To answer your FAQs, here is a link to a questionnaire we put together for anyone wanting to interview a potential inspector. Although it was written tongue-in-cheek, it has real questions you should consider.
FAQs about shopping for a new home. Here is a link for a Buyer’s Walk Through Inspection Form that you can print and take with you. It has a list with checkboxes for things you should look for when shopping for a new home. It allows you to perform a systematic review of the conditions of each of the homes and compare them. That way you can make an informed decision. Of course, it should not take the place of a complete inspection by a qualified home inspector.
Here is a link to a booklet we put together that will show you some things to do to get your house ready to sell. Please give us a call if you would like a Pre-Sale Inspection. or have any questions you would like answered in FAQs
"There are naïve questions, tedious questions, ill-phrased questions, questions put after inadequate self-criticism. But every question is a cry to understand the world. There is no such thing as a dumb question". - CARL SAGAN
