Just like in any other profession, there are also qualified and unqualified professionals in the home inspection business. It could be very difficult to identify a good home inspector from a bad one. There are just several states in the US that are imposing regulations and licensing requirements to home inspectors.
In areas where regulations are not stringent about home inspections, anyone could easily pose as a home inspector. You surely would not want to pay fees to home inspectors that are actually just mere con artists. Worse, if you are selling your house, you might actually jeopardize your transaction just because the home inspector screwed up.
Home inspections are tedious tasks to do. It is not like somebody would just enter into the house and run an ocular checking. If that is the case, you could do the task yourself. But that is not it. There are many factors and aspects that need further and more detailed attention. This is the reason why professionals and well-qualified inspectors are needed.
There are several usual scenarios that demonstrate why there is a need for actual and professional home inspectors. First, suppose you are about to sell a house. If you have hired an unqualified inspector, he might just walk in and see if there are visible and obvious cracks and damages. In an instant, that inspector may give you a report certifying how well your house is for selling. If the prospective buyer walks in and brings his/her own home inspector, you are in trouble. You might even be accused of trying to tamper inspection results, which in some states could lead to legal battles.
Second, an unqualified home inspector might act as if he knows all. He might look at certain areas in the house and declare a need for maintenance or repair, though, in reality, there is none. In many cases, a home inspector is asking for a repair or even a re-construction of the roofing, whereas in reality, it is in perfect condition. This way, your prospective buyer would surely be turned off and consider buying other homes instead. On your end, you might be forced to spend more dollars on unnecessary repair or re-construction.
Third, your home inspector might not be certified for the job. In some states and cities, there are regulations about the certifications of home inspectors. Such measures act as protection of the market against posers and con artists. If you are hiring an unqualified home inspector, the inspection report might not be honored by anyone else. Your prospective homebuyers might require you to re-do the inspection, this time, using the services of appropriately and legally certified home inspectors.
Lastly, your home might already need repair and maintenance. You know that in most cases if proper maintenance and repair are not performed, there might be risks and safety issues. If you are hiring an unqualified home inspector, he surely would not be able to see and determine specific areas that need repair and maintenance. This carelessness or incompetent practice might expose you and your family to possible uncalled-for danger. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
In the end, it is not advisable hiring the services of an unqualified and uncertified home inspector. You should be careful when finding and hiring inspectors. Not all inspectors should be trusted. You could save time and money by hiring only qualified and certified ones.
