WHAT SHOULD I BE LOOKING FOR IN AN INSPECTOR?

YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS BUT ONLY AROUND 25 PERCENT OF THE STATES HAVE HOME INSPECTOR STANDARDS. THAT’S RIGHT! EVEN ONE STATE AWAY YOU DO NOT NEED ANY TESTING OR PROVEN KNOWLEDGE TO GET A LICENSE AS A HOME INSPECTOR.

WHEN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON DECIDED TO CREATE A SET OF STANDARDS AND TESTING FOR HOME INSPECTION LICENSEES THEY WENT TO THE LARGEST HOME INSPECTION SOCIETY IN THE WORLD. AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HOME INSPECTORS (ASHI) AND ASKED THEM FOR A SET OF STANDARDS OF PRACTICE THE STATE COULD USE.

HERE’S A LITTLE KNOWN FACT: WHEN THE STANDARDS WENT INTO EFFECT THERE WERE AROUND 4,500 INSPECTORS IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. AFTER THEY WENT INTO AFFECT AND TESTING WAS REQUIRED TO OBTAIN A LICENSE ONLY AROUND 850 OF THE ORIGINAL INSPECTORS QUALIFIED.

SO MY FIRST RECOMMENDATION IS TO HIRE AN ASHI HOME INSPECTOR AS ASHI HAS SET THE STANDARDS FOR THE INDUSTRY AND WERE TRAINED BY OTHER LICENSED PROFESSIONALS.

MY SECOND RECOMMENDATION HAS TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO SUBSTITUTION FOR EXPERIENCE. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND INSPECTORS WITH A VARIETY OF EXPERIENCES IN THE INDUSTRY. A CORNUCOPIA OF KNOWLEDGE WILL ONLY HELP THE INSPECTOR AND YOU AS THE CUSTOMER.

THE MORE EXPERIENCES BROUGHT TO THE TABLE THE BETTER THE INSPECTOR WILL BE. ALWAYS TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR INSPECTORS RESUME OF EXPERIENCES.

HOW MUCH DOES THE INSPECTION COST?

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PACKAGES AVAILABLE

GENERALLY SPEAKING,

PRE-SALE INSPECTIONS START AT 350

CONDOS START AT 325

RESIDENTIAL HOME INSPECTIONS START AT 395

WARRANTY INSPECTIONS START AT 350

ALL PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO HOME SIZE AND TRAVEL DISTANCE.

“DEFERRED REPORTS” OPTION ARE ALSO AVAILABLE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AT A REDUCED COST.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO COMPLETE THE INSPECTION?

TYPICAL HOMES TAKE 2-3 HOURS DEPENDING ON THE CONDITION OF THE HOME.

DO I NEED TO BE THERE FOR THE INSPECTION?

YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE THERE BUT I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU ARE.  I LIKE TO GO OVER THE HIGHLIGHTS WITH YOU BEFORE I LEAVE THE PROPERTY IN CASE THERE ARE FURTHER QUESTIONS.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO RECEIVE THE REPORT?

ORAL EVALUATION WILL BE GIVEN IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE INSPECTION FOLLOWED UP BY A WRITTEN REPORT WITHIN 24 HOURS.

WHO PAYS FOR THE REPAIRS FOUND IN THE INSPECTION REPORT?

THAT WILL BE BETWEEN YOU AND THE SELLER AND YOU SHOULD BE DISCUSSING THAT WITH YOUR AGENT.

WHO GETS COPIES OF MY REPORT?

YOU, THE CLIENT ARE PAYING FOR THE REPORT AND ONLY YOU WILL DETERMINE WHO WILL RECEIVE COPIES OF THE REPORT