Buying a House? Choose a Home inspector Carefully

When you're buying a house, especially if it isn't new, you should consider hiring a home inspector to make sure there are no hidden problems with the structure; plumbing, heating and electrical systems, roof, windows or anything else that can affect the price you'd be willing to pay or your decision to buy at all.

But it's essential to investigate the inspector carefully before committing to a contract, based on the complaints dissatisfied customers have made online and elsewhere.

In a recent undercover investigation, the Washington, D.C.-based non-profit group Consumers' Checkbook found shortcomings among all 12 inspectors it hired to examine a three-bedroom Virginia home. On average, the group said, the inspectors discovered only about half of the 28 problems it had identified in the test house. Among the issues some inspectors missed were unrepaired water damage to a ceiling and walls, an unsafe fireplace and a roof that was in poor condition. It didn't matter that all the inspectors were licensed, as required by Virginia law. The inspections cost the group an average of $450.

In a story I wrote for Consumer Reports this month, I report on a woman who told me that the inspector that she and her husband hired to examine a Texas home missed a serious issue: A disconnected pipe that was causing raw sewage to spill into the crawlspace. Unfortunately, the couple discovered the problem only after they bought the house.

What to Do

Carefully check out an inspector you're planning to hire. Try a web search with the inspector's name and such terms as "reviews" and "complaints." As with any purchase from a seller you don't know, look for a report at the Better Business Bureau.

Although it's no guarantee of a proper inspection, it's still a good idea to verify that the inspector has any state required license or registration. Finally, choose an inspector certified by at least one of the three major trade organizations, the American Society of Home Inspectors, the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors and the National Academy of Building Inspection Engineers.

For more tips, check out my story on Consumer Reports website. And visit the Consumers' Checkbook website, which details the group's investigation and provides helpful advice you shouldn't miss.

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