Five Questions a Homebuyer, Seller or Realtor® Should Ask a Loudoun Home Inspector before Hiring Them

Not all home inspectors are the same. So how can you be confident that you’re hiring the right one? Whether you’re buying, selling, or just checking on your home’s condition, here are five key questions to ask:

Are you certified and insured? CHI® (Certified Home Inspector) or PHI® (Professional Home Inspector) certifications are important, but they’re actually not required. These prestigious certifications will assure you that your inspector has undergone more than 500+ hours of education and advanced training, ensuring that your inspection is thorough and reliable. PHI certified inspectors take it a step further. They’re also required to carry Errors and Omissions Insurance coverage. So find out if your inspector has a PHI designation behind his name.

Are you ISHI® certified? Make sure your inspector is ISHI (International Society of Home Inspectors) certified. ISHI standards exceed all others in 14 vitally important ways. Here are some critical checkpoints only required for ISHI inspections: foundation, furnace heat exchanger, all accessible doors and windows, installed built-in appliances, all accessible outlets and more. Additionally, ISHI written reports include positive attributes of the home.

Do you inspect the foundation? Most don’t. In fact, if they say yes, be sure to ask them how they inspect it. They should use a foundation level device to take measurements throughout the house to determine the levelness of the foundation. These measurements are then recorded on a diagram – included on a CAD drawing – showing any uneven foundation settlement.   

What if a potential problem is found during the inspection? This may be hard to believe, but if a potential problem is found during an inspection, most inspectors will tell you to call an electrician, roofer, or plumber for further evaluation. With A-Pro, you will NEVER need to call a third party, saving you time, money, and hassle with our “no further evaluation guarantee.” 

What happens if you miss something during an inspection? With most inspectors, you will have to pay for repairs and replacements – even if the problem was missed during the inspection. Their evaluation is little more than an opinion. When you choose A-Pro, you receive this pledge: “If we don’t report it, we repair it™” at our own expense, for covered claims up to 120 days.

Have additional questions?

Don’t hesitate to call 1 (571) 510-0222 today for A-Pro® certified Loudoun home inspectors.

Mention this post and get a $25.00 discount with a standard Loudoun home inspection.