Valley Real Estate

At the present time, home inspectors are not required to be licensed in the State of Ohio, therefore, it's important that you seek the expertise of only qualified home inspectors.

Here's 10 Questions To Ask Your Home Inspector

1. What are your qualifications?

   Are you a  certified member of the

   The National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI)

   and/or

   American Association of Home Inspectors? (AAHI)

2. Do you have a current license?

   Inspectors are not required to be licensed in Ohio, although  REALTORs have been soliciting the state for years to change this situation. This is all the more reason you must choose your inspector carefully.

3. How about your experience?

   How many inspections of properties such as this do you do each year?

4. Any references?

   Do you have a list of past clients I can contact?

5. Are you insured?

   Do you carry professional errors and omission insurance? May I have a copy of the policy?

6. How about a guarantee?

   Do you provide any warranty of your work?

7. What can I expect?

   What specifically will the inspection cover?

8. Will I get it in writing?

   What type of report will I receive after the inspection?

9. Tell me about the inspection.

   How long will the inspection take and how long will it take to receive the report?

10. How about your fee?

    How much will the inspection cost?
    

Home Defect Checklist

The perfect home has yet to be built, but some homes are more perfect than others, and some problems that may be hidden from the untrained eye can be expensive to fix. Make sure the home you buy is all that the seller says it is.

• Exterior Brick: Look for cracked bricks or mortar pulling away from bricks
• Siding: Look for dents or buckling foundations: Look for cracks or water seepage
• Insulation: Look for condition, adequate R-rating for climate
• Doors and Windows: Look for loose or tight fits, condition of locks, condition of weather-stripping
• Roof: Look for age, conditions of flashing, pooling water, buckled shingles, or loose gutters and downspouts
• Ceilings, walls, and moldings: Look for loose pieces, drywall that is pulling away
• Porch/Deck: Loose railings or step, rot
• Electrical: Look for condition of fuse box/circuit breakers, number of outlets in each room
• Plumbing: Look for poor water pressure, banging pipes, rust spots or corrosion that indicate leaks, sufficient insulation
• Water Heater: Look for age, size adequate for house, speed of recovery, energy rating
• Furnace/Air Conditioning: Look for age, energy rating; Furnaces are rated by annual fuel utilization efficiency; the higher the rating, the lower your fuel costs. However, other factors such as payback period and other operating costs, such as electricity to operate motors.
• Garage: Look for exterior in good repair; condition of floor—cracks, stains, etc.; condition of door mechanism
• Basement: Look for water leakage, musty smell
• Attic: Look for adequate ventilation, water leaks from roof
• Septic Tanks (if applicable): Adequate absorption field capacity for the percolation rate in your area and the size of your family
• Driveways/Sidewalks: Look for cracks, heaving pavement, crumbling near edges, stains