When you hire a home inspector, you are hiring an experienced professional who has training and experience in the building industry. It is the job of the home inspector to not only evaluate the condition of the home's major systems and structural integrity, but also to evaluate how these systems are working together and identify areas that need to be watched, repaired or replaced.

Your home inspector gives you the Big Picture analysis of the house you are purchasing. If the home inspector identifies the need for a costly, detailed analysis of any of the homes' systems or structures, the inspector will recommend the appropriate professional, which may be an experienced engineer with expertise analyzing that particular system or structure.

Our inspection service is a visual inspection of the structural elements and systems, which are accessible. This typically includes:

• Foundation/Structure
• Roofing
• Exterior, walls, siding etc.
• Porches and decks
• Attic
• Electrical systems
• Plumbing systems
• Interior
• Doors and windows
• Heating and air conditioning systems
• Ventilation
• Fireplaces

We strongly encourage you to accompany the inspector so that you may ask questions and gain a better understanding of the systems in the home.

For most people, the purchase of a home is the largest investment they’ll ever make. Getting an independent, expert opinion on the operability of the structure and its systems is crucial. Not all home inspectors have the same experience, training, or certifications – There are currently no federal regulations governing home inspectors. Home inspectors are governed only by whatever laws are in place in the state in which the inspection is performed, and these laws vary greatly.

So how do you make sure you’ve hired the right person for the job?

When shopping for a home inspector, it’s vital that you do your homework and interview each inspector based on the checklist below.

Do not price shop.  When hiring a home inspector, you’re basically hiring an advocate with your interests in mind to give you their expert opinion on the home’s condition.  With that in mind, making sure that you’re hiring an inspector with plenty of knowledge and training means not shopping for one by price alone.  Training, certifications, and continuing education do not come cheap to the inspectors and therefore, their expertise is not going to be cheap either.  When it comes to home inspections – as with most things – you get what you pay for.

Research their credentials.  Since there are no national standards for home inspectors, one of the best things a consumer can do to find out about an inspector’s qualifications is to ask what associations they belong to.  Some associations require minimum training, experience, continuing education and also require the inspector to pass certain exams.  However, not all associations are created equal.  Check out the associations’ minimum requirements.  The best associations require that the inspector pass yearly exams and obtain a specific amount of continuing education credits.  Also find out what level of the association the inspector occupies.  Some associations have “candidate” and “associate” or other levels that basically mean that the inspector has not met the requirements to be a full member.  Also ask what certifications the inspector holds and then research them as well. (See www.ashi.org )

Ask for references.  An inspector should be happy to provide you with three references from previous clients.  Call those clients and ask them about their experience with their inspections.

Make sure they’re insured.  A professional inspector should carry property damage and general liability insurance or an “errors and omissions” policy, commonly called E&O insurance. MAPS is a full Member of ASHI and Insured.