When buying a home, hiring a qualified inspector is a no-brainer. However, home inspection certification is voluntary, so be careful who you hire.  

It’s important to find a reputable company (Check with your real estate agent), and ask direct questions about the inspection process.

A professional home inspector should catch any serious issues in a home before you close the deal, giving you room to renegotiate or even walk away. Compared to the expensive surprises you might face otherwise, a home inspector’s fee is actually a bargain.

Be aware that routine home inspections don’t cover some important issues. For instance, radon testing is typically not part of the standard inspection process. As a buyer, it’s up to you to ask for it.

Radon is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas caused by naturally decomposing radioactive elements in the soil. Its presence is measured in picoCuries per liter of air, or pCi/L. It can get “trapped” inside a structure and build up to unsafe levels. Anything over 4 pCi/L is unsafe—and a leading cause of lung cancer. Testing is simple—a home inspector can leave a canister or other testing device on the lowest level of the home for 48 hours, then take the average reading.

Ask your real estate agent if you need additional inspections for:  

• Termites 

• Roof or chimney repairs 

• Foundation cracks 

• Swimming pools or wells 

• Septic systems