1. ARE YOU A MEMBER OF A.S.H.I.?(American Society of Home Inspectors)
    Home Inspectors who belong to A.S.H.I. have qualified for membership by completing 250 paid inspections, passing a national home inspection exam and a test on standards and ethics. In addition, A.S.H.I. members are required to maintain a minimum of 20 hours of continuing education each year. A.S.H.I. membership helps to insure that your inspector is qualified, experienced and up-to-date on current issues that affect todays homebuyers.
  2. ARE YOU INSURED AND BONDED?
    It’s important to make sure your inspector is insured and bonded for your protection. One small error can be a major financial expense, and the inspectors liability is only as good as the insurance, should it ever be needed.
  3. ARE YOU LICENSED FOR STRUCTURAL PEST INSPECTIONS IN WASHINGTON STATE?
    Any inspector performing home inspections in the State of Washington is required to be licensed, insured and bonded to legally perform any home inspection in state. You are not protected if your inspector is not licensed.
  4. DO YOU HAVE A BACKGROUND IN RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION?
    A knowledge of construction and construction techniques is necessary in order for an inspector to understand all the components and their relationships in a home. This is one of the most important qualifications to look for in a home inspector.
  5. ARE YOU A FULL-TIME INSPECTOR?
    Many inspectors work at their job on a part-time basis. Only a full-time inspector is dedicated to the profession and will work to make sure they do a complete professional inspection. They depend on this job as a sole source of income, and will make the effort to do the best job they can, through continuing education and keeping up with market trends.
  6. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AN INSPECTOR?
    Nothing can replace experience in the home inspection industry. Experience and membership in an organization such as A.S.H.I. will guarantee you an inspector who is educated in his/her field.
  7. ARE YOUR REPORTS AVAILABLE THE SAME DAY AS THE INSPECTION?
    During the busy buying and selling season, it may take several days to a week to schedule a home inspection. As a buyer, your offer is usually contingent upon the results of the home inspection, and it is important that you have time to have the inspection report reviewed and explained to you within the time frames allowed. A report that is presented to you on the day of the inspection allows you additional time to review and discuss any concerns discovered during the inspection.
  8. WHAT OTHER SERVICES DO YOU OFFER?
    Additional services may be provided by your home inspector during the inspection. You may choose to have radon gas testing or mold tests completed during the inspection. Each of these services require additional training and equipment. Home inspectors who provide these services are usually dedicated to their profession and try to provide as much information as possible to their clients
  9. DO YOU HAVE A WEB-SITE?
    Web sites are a common source of information today. Inspectors provide web sites to inform homebuyers of their services, contact them for inspections or information or as a source of information for buyers and sellers.
  10. ARE YOU A MEMBER OF ANY LOCAL REAL ESTATE ORGANIZATIONS?
    Many home inspectors belong to local real estate organizations, as well as state or national groups. Participating in local organizations lets you know your home inspector is actively involved in his/her profession and is keeping up to date with the local trends that affect the homebuyer.