Home Inspector Recommendations/Ideas

[bibsoconner]

Hi,
I need to (quickly) set up a home inspection and am stressing over the choice. I’m naturally cheap but realize that this is an important step in buying the house and what to get a good inspector.

I did attempt to search the forums for topics on home inspections and recommendations for home inspectors without luck. Hard to believe my quesitons haven’t been asked before, so please provide me a a link (and lecture to look harder next time!).

I need to get a house inspected and don’t necessarily want to go with the realtor recommended home inspector. It’s probably my overly paranoid imagination, but I would think the realtor has reason to pick an inspector that is going to “softball” problems and not really dig into things. Any recommendations for inspectors?

The realtor has recommended The Real Estate Inspection Co owned by Phillipe Heller. They have steller reviews on Yelp. My concern is that I don’t see an accreditation info on their site or info about the history of their inspectors. I’m contacting them to verify this. It could just be that there website doesn’t reflect certifications (an oversight, but forgivable). So two of my specific questions are:
a) How important is CREIA or ASHI, InterNACHI or other certifications?
b) Would you like your inspector to have been a general contractor or have some other background?

Someone else recommended Bob Fennema. See BobFennema.com Opinions? He’s considerably more expensive than others and doesn’t do a pool inspection. His qualifications are impressive though.

So in summary my questions are:
1) Do you have general recommendations for home inspectors or the home inspection process?
2) Do think certiications are important? If so which ones?
3) Do you think having a general contracting background (or some other background) is important?
4) Can someone comment on The Real Estate Inspection Co.
5) Can someone comment on Robert (Bob) Fennema?
6) Would you pick an inspector that does a pool inspection? Or pick a separate “pool only” inspector. See for example: http://www.poolinspections.com .

[bibsoconner]

Ok, I researched (using term: Inspector) and saw lots of topics which I will research. I blame my initial failure to find anything on lack of coffee! However, I’m still interested in my questions above as I don’t think they are all answered in previous posts (especially the importance of certifications/backgound and pool inspections).

Thanks,
Dave

[Anonymous]

Dave,

This reply is a little late! But I just ran across your post today.

Every inspector at The Real Estate Inspection Co. is certified by InterNACHI. We have redesigned our website, and chose not to include all those badges you see on so many sites. However, I will have our certifications highlighted so that potential clients like you can verify our certification.

Thank you,

Philippe Heller

P.S. Our name has been changed from The San Diego Real Estate Inspection Co. because we now offer services in south Orange County and South Riverside.

[Author]

Posts