7 Questions To Ask A Home Inspector In Portland Before You Hire Them

by | Jan 11, 2018

home inspector in Portland

Getting ready to buy a new home in the great state of Oregon?

Do you need a reliable home inspector in Portland?

Whether you’re buying a new home, considering a purchase or have another reason for getting a home inspection, it’s important to find the right person for the job.

To do this, you’ll want to ask your potential home inspector a few essential questions to make sure they’re the real deal and can perform the job thoroughly and professionally.

If you’re ready to find a home inspector in Portland, below are the 8 questions you need to ask before getting started.

1. What Does the Inspection Include?

First of all, you need to know what will be included in the inspection. What exactly will the home inspector look at and examine when it comes to the condition of your home?

A quality home inspector in Portland will typically look at many aspects of a home. However, it’s particularly important for home buyers that an inspector will be performing a roof inspection, a foundation inspection, and an exterior siding inspection.

A home inspection should be very thorough and give you full confidence that you are understand the state of the property you are considering.

2. What Are Your Qualifications?

Next, you need to ask about the home inspector’s qualifications. Be sure to ask about any special certifications they may hold, and especially check their reviews.

A quality home inspector should at least have the following:

  • An Oregon home inspectors license
  • An affiliation with a professional inspection organization (such as the American Society of Home Inspectors or the National Association of Home Inspectors)
  • Additionally, make sure that the home inspector doesn’t have any complaints against them on the state licensing board.

3. How Long Is the Inspection Going to Be?

You should also find out how long the inspection will take. A home inspection will be completed in three to four hours generally.

Be sure that the home inspection isn’t going to be too short as this may mean that the home inspector won’t be as thorough as they need to be to really determine the condition of your home. A home inspector in Portland shouldn’t take any less than an hour to complete an inspection.

4. Do You Offer Repairs Based On Inspection Results?

While some inspectors may offer may offer to assist with repairs, be wary of this. It’s easy for a conflict of interest to arise in their report and advice. You’ll want an inspector who is unbiased and fully committed to doing what they do best – analyzing the condition of the property at hand.

If an inspector offers repairs this can be a real conflict of interest and greatly reduce their reliability and trustworthiness. In most cases, it is a much better idea to choose a home inspector that doesn’t offer repairs so you can make sure you’re getting an unbiased report.

5. What Do You Charge?

You should also find out about the home inspection cost. Keep in mind that a quality inspection is the most important thing. It’s best that you don’t blindly choose the cheapest option.

It’s important to look for a good mix of both quality and value, and remember that you get what you pay for. Typically a home inspection will cost between $300 and $500.

However, be aware that if you have a larger home and a lot of extra square footage the time it takes to inspect your home will increase and costs will be more expensive. Ask about the specifics of these rates when speaking with a potential home inspector.

6. Do You Have Insurance?

A quality home inspector in Portland should also have reliable insurance. Ask them about what insurance they have for their company before you hire an inspector. Believe it or not, many home inspectors don’t have insurance.

Typically, if a home inspector has insurance it will be errors and omissions insurance. This insurance will help with claims of negligence in the rare case that a mistake is made or damage occurs during an inspection.

It is important that you make sure the home inspector you are considering has insurance before you hire them. Having insurance to back them up will ensure the inspector’s reliability and professionalism.

7. What Kind of Reporting Will There Be?

A reliable home inspector in Portland will offer to report thoroughly on the inspection. You should ask them about their reporting standards and what you should expect to see in a report before getting started.

You may also wish to ask for a sample inspection report so that you will be able to see exactly what you will be able to expect.

If you’re not happy with what is offered in the report you may need to request additional reporting from the inspection. However, if you’re not happy with the reporting standards it may simply be best to go with a different inspector who will be more thorough.

Finding the Best Home Inspector in Portland

By now you should have a good idea of how to properly vet a potential home inspector.

It can take a little bit of effort to find the right home inspector. However, it will be easy enough to find a professional as long as you take the time to ask a few questions first.

Looking for a reliable home inspector in Portland, Oregon? Octopus Home Inspections can help. Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you.