Professional Home Inspectors Play A Vital Role

(HIT) - Real estate agents have the job of helping a buyer find a house. The buyer (or seller) hires the agent to sell them a house. By the nature of the job, the agent is selling a house to the buyer. Thus the agent is devoted to the sale first and foremost.

The appraiser works for the lender in most cases. The lender wants to know that the value of the property justifies the amount of the mortgage. While the homebuyer may receive a copy of the appraisal, it is often received after the time when it might benefit the buyer.

The title searcher, either an attorney or a title search company, again is working for the lender. The lender wants to be sure they will have the first position lien on the property, to protect the lenders investment. The buyer may be a secondary beneficiary of the title search if the title can not be cleared and the lender denies the loan.

The closing attorney(s) work for the paperwork. It is their job to see that the paperwork is properly completed. It may be considered that they work for the paperwork. It is rare that an attorney would take a direct interest in the specific house being transacted.

Who Looks After The Homebuyer?

It is the job of a professional home inspector to educate homebuyers about the condition of a home they are buying. This is a very important job and must be in the hands of a very trusted person. Many homebuyers will not accept the names of home inspectors recommended by real estate people for fear that the home inspector and real estate agent might be working together. In fact, there are many allegations that this does happen. No home inspector will admit to it, however.

One television expose show recorded real estate sales people saying they wouldn’t use an inspector who finds things wrong with a home. With an agent like this you can almost be assured the home inspector will find no major defects. Could that home inspector repeat the process to increase referrals from the agent?

To find a professional home inspector who will work with your best interests at heart, contact the Home Inspection Institute of America, Inc. at www.inspecthomes.com or 1-203-284-2311. The Institute can provide names of professional home inspectors who have been professionally trained and certified annually by submitting copies of their reports for review and critique.

This process keeps the professional home inspector on his/her toes, completing reports according to the strict Standard of Care for the Home Inspection Profession. Institute training is recognized by most states that require professional home inspector training, including Connecticut, South Carolina, Texas, Nevada and South Dakota and many other places.

The Home Inspection Institute of America, Inc., recommends asking some key questions before choosing a professional home inspector or home inspection agency:

• Does the professional home inspector offer a written Pre-Inspection Agreement (contract)?
• Does the contract, where offered, adhere to standards commensurate with those offered by the Institute’s "Standard of Care for the Home Inspection Profession?"
• Does the professional home inspector’s certification require continued annual review and critique of reports?
• Does the report submitted by the professional home inspector meet insurance standards such as those of the Zurich Specialties London Limited Home Inspection Professional Liability Policy?
• Where can consumers learn more about rating potential home instructors?

"The Standard of Care for the Home Inspection Profession" is available to professional home inspectors and consumers for $20.00. Write Home Inspection Institute, Inc., 314 Main Street, Yalesville, Connecticut 06492. Reports reviewed by the Institute meet or exceed the requirements of this standard. Professional home inspectors from across the U.S. and Canada, from Hawaii to Maine and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Alaska have attended the 6 day, 48 hour Home Inspector Training Program offered at the Institute. Senior Certified Home Inspectors have maintained certification, without a lapse, for five or more years.

To locate nearby professional home inspectors who are certified by the Home Inspection Institute of America, Inc., or for more information about the Institute, call 1-203-284-2311, or visit the website at: www.inspecthomes.com.

Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center