Buying a home is one of the most expensive investments you will ever make and in many cases the most expensive investment you will make.

As a home buyer and / or home owner you have hundreds of choices when it comes to selecting a home inspector.  You can let your REALTOR or relocation company choose your home inspector.  You can shop around for the least expensive home inspector or find an inspector with immediate availability.  You can try and inspect the home yourself to save money.

When it comes to home inspectors the quality of the inspection and dedication to the home buyer can vary widely.  If you research your home inspection options you will come to realize that there are basically a few types of home inspectors available:

1. Full-Time Serious Professional Home Inspectors with years or experience and a construction background.
2. Full-Time home inspectors that are new to the business and often have little or no construction background (almost half of the home inspection licenses in North Carolina and South Carolina have been issued in under the last 2 years).
3. Semi-Retired Individuals that are looking for occasional work.
4. Part-time home inspectors that work other jobs and are looking to supplement their income. 

Many home inspectors rely on REALTORS as their primary source of business and referrals.  If you choose the home inspector your REALTOR recommends you may get what is commonly referred to as an “easy inspector” or “drive-by inspector” that is “REALTOR friendly” and will not risk reporting something that might “kill the deal”.  Yes several caring REALTOR's recommend me, but many more have told me things such as "I'm too picky", "I find the expensive problems", "some deals become difficult after my inspection" in order for them to recommend me to their clients. 

If the home inspector you are considering does not encourage you to attend the inspection and follow them around the home, ask yourself why.  A detail oriented, thorough home inspector will be proud of their work and encourage buyers to attend and follow them around the home.   For my clients, I promise you it will be one of the most informative ½ days you have ever spent; after all buying a home is a huge investment it is worth a few hours to see what the inspector sees when he / she sees it.

Entry into the home inspection business can be relatively inexpensive (in half of the states there is no state licensing board, so all someone may need is a business card and a screw driver). 

• Full time dedicated home inspectors spend thousands of dollars on gear, instruments, tools, ladders, cameras, computers, and licenses to perform home inspections.
• Serious home inspectors spend thousands of dollars on insurance to protect themselves on the job site.
• Dedicated home inspectors join credible home inspection associations, such as ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) as well as smaller local associations to train and learn form other local serious home inspectors.
• Long term home inspectors spend countless hours reviewing new construction techniques, new products, and stay on top of product recalls.
• Professional home inspectors spend numerous hours and thousands of dollars every year taking continuing education courses to constantly improve their knowledge base and keep themselves on top of the profession.
• Over half of the home inspection licenses in North Carolina and South Carolina have been issued in the last 2 years.  That makes your odds of getting a rookie, inexperienced, and/or untrained inspector basically 50-50 before you even make your first call.