How to Choose a Florida Home Inspector
If you’re visiting this blog, chances are you’re looking to put an offer on a house or already have, and now you’re needing a home inspection. Perhaps your realtor has recommended an inspector and you’re wondering if you should be finding your own to avoid conflict of interest, or perhaps you’re overwhelmed by the hundreds of options of home inspectors in South Florida.
When it comes to finding the right home inspector for you, there are some easy questions you can ask and be on the lookout for to help you narrow your search.
Does the home inspector include ancillary services such as mold testing, termite inspections*, or insurance inspections, such as a wind mitigation and 4-point insurance inspection? By choosing an inspector that provides all of these services, you will save both time and headache in coordinating contractors later.
Does the home inspector take information for insurance during the full inspection, in case you find out you need the insurance report later? Perhaps you’re not sure if you’ll be buying the house to be inspected, and you’d rather save money by not paying for insurance reports you don’t need, or perhaps your insurance agent didn’t mention you’d be needing insurance reports. Either way, if your home inspector takes the information during your inspection, in most cases, they can provide the report to you at a later date for a discounted rate over what you’d pay for a standalone insurance inspection.
Does the home inspector have any additional certifications? There are seemingly endless niches for inspectors to certify and specialize in. At Florida’s Favorite Home Inspections, our CPI (Certified Professional Inspector) is also a CPO (Certified Pool Operator), IAC2 certified for mold sampling and is FAA licensed to fly a drone commercially. If the roof is not safe to walk on (from poor condition or an overly steep angle) or perhaps the HOA doesn’t allow inspectors on the roof, we can still inspect the roof and provide high-quality photos, whereas another company might just provide partial information or omit the roof altogether.
Is the inspector staying up-to-date with education? At Florida’s Favorite Home Inspections, our inspector is one of only a few to have achieved the prestigious Gerry Beaumont Educational Achievement Award 2022. We are passionate about learning all there is to know and are equally invested in making sure our clients are educated about their soon-to-be home and all that is entailed in taking care of it.
Does your realtor seem reluctant to allow you to choose your own home inspector? This may seem a little far-fetched and is not always an issue, but believe us when we tell you we’ve come across a few realtors that have requested we omit problems from a home inspection report. After months of chasing a commission, your realtor does not want you walking away from a sale because the home has termites or the roof needs to be replaced. Whether you choose your own or go with one of your realtor’s recommendations, make sure you choose an inspector that is going to be thorough, honest, and will not turn a blind eye for the realtor, which will cost you in the long run.
Is the home inspection company available? You need a home inspector that is going to be able to work with everyone’s schedule. We understand that once you’re under contract you’re needing a home inspection quickly and we can often schedule inspections with as little as 24-48 hours’ notice. You need an inspector that is available to answer questions after the inspection is over and not just before. If it took two days for your inspector to return your call, what are the chances they’re going to be available after the inspection is complete? Once you’re our client, you’re always our client; we’re happy to answer questions that may arise long after the inspection is over.
You’ll find that Florida’s Favorite Home Inspections ticks all of these boxes and more. Whether you want to schedule an inspection, ask a few questions, or just get a free quote, we’re here to help. 561-985-5919