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Finding and Choosing a Home Inspector
There are several ways to find a professional home inspector in your area. For example, you can:
- Ask your real estate agent for names
- Check the local phone directory
- Ask friends and family who have used a home inspector in the past
- Contact a home inspection association for a list of qualified inspectors in your area
- Go online to association Web sites
- Ask someone in the construction or housing industry
- Contact your local real estate board for references
When choosing a home inspector:
- Ask if they belong to a professionally recognized organization such as the Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors.
- Ask about their training-they should have taken courses related to this field.
- Verify that they are full-time inspectors with significant experience (versus performing inspections to supplement other fields of business).
- Ask for references. Then, call the references to see if they were satisfied.
- Use only inspectors who will give you a written report of their findings.
- Ask how much time the inspection will take and how much it will cost. A thorough inspection should last at least three hours, depending on the size of the property.
- Ask about their limitation of liability agreement. This will let you know what they are and are not liable for if something was missed or an oversight occurred.
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