How to make an Offer to Purchase
Finding a qualified home inspector
It’s important that your home inspection be done by a qualified professional who has training and experience in a field such as engineering, architecture or construction. To find a qualified home inspector, ask your lender or real estate agent for names of companies that have a good reputation.
If you are unable to find a home inspector through a reliable recommendation, you may wish to look for someone who is a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors. This nonprofit organization was formed in 1976 as a voluntary professional society.
To qualify for ASHI membership, inspectors must pass a series of tests that measure their technical and professional knowledge. Before they can formally join ASHI, they must also perform at least 250 paid professional home inspections according to the ASHI standards of practice, and they must undergo a one-year review and trial period. All ASHI members must subscribe to the society’s Code of Ethics and they must meet a yearly quota of continuing education credits.
The ASHI standards of practice require that inspectors judge the condition of a number of structural and mechanical components of a home and give a written report to the buyer. Examples include:
- central heating and air conditioning systems
- interior electrical and plumbing systems
- interior walls, ceilings, floors and stairs
- visible insulation
- ventilation systems
- foundation, basement, attic and roof
- exterior wall coverings, flashing and trim, gutters and downspouts
- windows and doors
- surface grading and drainage
You should insist that each of these items be covered in a detailed report that you get to keep. It is highly recommended that you go with the home inspector when he or she conducts the inspection. This will give you the chance to ask questions about any of the conditions that may exist in the home and get an estimate of the cost for repairing these items. It will also give you the chance to ask questions about home maintenance.
