Top 10 Home Inspectors in Bainbridge Island, WA
Frequently asked questions about home inspectors
Buying a home is the biggest purchase you’ll make in your lifetime. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or looking to buy your next place, there are many benefits of hiring a professional home inspector.
Walking through a home, you may notice a few things you want to fix or rooms you want to paint. The home inspector will assess important HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems. Inspectors notice structural or insulation problems that you and your real estate agent probably missed. The inspector outlines all their findings in a report and walks you through the property to explain major issues.
If you decide to go through with the purchase, the home inspection report offers a roadmap for repairs you may need. The inspection report is also great leverage for contract negotiations with the seller. If there’s a major repair on the report, you can ask the seller to cover it or come down on the sale price.
Of course, the main benefit of hiring a home inspector is that they’ll help you avoid buying a home that needs more work than you’re willing to pay. As long as your offer is contingent on the home inspection, you’ll be able to walk away with your down payment and find the property that works best for your family and your budget.
Before you hire a home inspector, make sure they’re certified. Not all home inspectors are members of the American Society of Home Inspectors, so check that yours is. Members of AHSI adhere to a standard of ethics, continue their education, and have access to more resources.
Check to make sure your home inspector is insured. Home inspectors usually carry professional liability (aka errors and omissions) insurance and general liability to cover things like property damage claims.
As part of the home buying process, your local home inspector will have a certain number of days to examine the property. Then, you’ll walk through the house together so the inspector can point out any problems they may have found. In the end, the inspector will give you a report detailing everything you need to know.
When choosing an inspector, ask for previous inspection reports to see how thorough they are. Good reports are thorough and include photos. Reading reviews gives you a better idea of what to expect from the home inspector. If you’re choosing between a full-time inspector and a part-time one, hire the full-time inspector – they’ll have booked more hours and experience.
Of course, if you already have a good rapport with your real estate agent, ask who they would recommend. Real estate agents often deal with home inspectors, so they’ll know the best option for you in your area.
You’ve bought your dream home and noticed some water damage in the basement a month later. You hire a contractor to assess it, and they say this isn’t the first time the basement has seen water damage – the foundation wall is bowing from it. This issue should have been on the inspection report. Is the inspector liable?
They can be. That question is why it’s best to hire an inspector who carries errors and omissions insurance, as well as general liability insurance. The inspector will have to file a claim to cover the repairs, but they will be more likely to cover those costs.
As with any legal action, there’s no guarantee you’ll get your money back. Pursuing legal action against an uninsured home inspector will become an even bigger headache, and they may not have the funds available to cover the repairs you need.
You also have to prove that nothing happened to alter the home's condition after you completed the inspection report. For instance, if there aren’t any issues with the roof at the time of inspection, and you notice leaks a few months after a big storm, the home inspector would not be liable.
The cost of a home inspection depends on a few factors, including the location and size of the property. Generally, you should expect to pay a couple hundred dollars for one home inspection. A few things about local home inspectors could increase that price:
- Experience - When hiring a more experienced home inspector, they tend to charge more.
- Age and condition of the property - Older homes may cost more to inspect.
- Travel time - The inspector may charge for commuting if you buy a country home off the beaten path.
- Additional inspections - Depending on where you buy your home, you may want to invest in specialty inspections. Radon tests, pest inspections, and well inspections will run up the bill. Ask your real estate agents which inspections they would recommend, and plan for them when finalizing your budget.
In some real estate markets, the seller may pay for an inspection ahead of time. Ask your real estate agent if they trust the company that performed the pre-inspection. This awareness can help you decide whether or not to invest in another inspection.
If you’re selling a home in a competitive market, investing in a pre-sale home inspection may be a good idea. As a seller, some pros include the following:
- The inspection report will paint a realistic view of the property, helping you and your real estate agent set a competitive listing price.
- A pre-sale inspection allows you to make any necessary repairs or updates to get a greater return on investment when the time comes to sell.
- You won’t be surprised by the buyer’s home inspection report. If you’re selling your first home to upgrade to a second, the pre-sale inspection will help you avoid any costly negotiations that the buyer’s report might unearth.
- If you are selling a relative’s property that you inherited, the pre-sale inspection will give you all the details you need about the property's condition.
While it may seem beneficial to have a pre-sale inspection before you put your home on the market, there can also be downsides. Here are a few cons that impact homebuyers and sellers alike:
- The seller is legally obligated to reveal any problems with the house to potential buyers. If the pre-sale inspection uncovers some major problems, your plans may need to change.
- As a homebuyer, remember that the pre-sale home inspection usually benefits the seller. The home inspector likely had the seller’s best interests at heart and not yours. It’s always a good idea to invest in your home inspection.
- Finally, a pre-sale home inspection doesn’t guarantee the buyer’s inspector won’t find anything wrong with the property.
Recent reviews for Bainbridge Island Home Inspectors
Jon did a Great Job! I was very happy with how thorough he was, He also provided me with an Excellent Report!
Jon was fantastic. He did a awesome job
Sound Structure Home Inspections, LLC did a wonderful job with inspection they were thorough and sent me the report back very fast
Matt was very professional. He explained everything very well
Sound Structure Home Inspections, LLC . were wonderful did provided all the answers I asked and gave me info on all the house and provided me with details that were needed to be fixed.
Sound Structure Home Inspections, LLC did a great job they were thorough with the report made sure I understood everything written on it
He did a great job. Answered all my questions and have great information.
They did a great job with the details and made a wonderful job in the inspection.
The inspection was very professional, the inspector was very detailed pointing and explaining what he was looking for. Overall it was a great experience.
The inspection went well and they provided helpful details.
Jon was great. the report provided was very helpful.
Everything You Need to Know About Bainbridge Island Home Inspectors
Can I browse unscreened Home Inspectors in Bainbridge Island?
We do our best to screen all of our home inspectors. However, there are still some home inspector professionals in Bainbridge Island that have not been pre-screened. This means that their licenses may not be up to date to operate in Bainbridge Island or WA. Always be sure to pre-screen them yourself before hiring. Here are some unscreened professionals offering home inspection agencies:
- Tushay Home Inspection:
- Active/Verified License: No, current status is inactive
- Epilogue Home Inspection:
- Active/Verified License: No, current status is inactive
- Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection:
- Services Offered: Home Inspectors
- Active/Verified License: No, current status is inactive
My Home Inspection Agencies project in Bainbridge Island is really small. How much should I expect to spend?
The lowest price we could find for home inspection agencies work in Bainbridge Island is about $0.00. You should expect to pay at least this much depending on the scope of your project.
Home Inspector work at this level can sometimes involve several steps or phases. Cost for every project will differ depending on the quality of Home Inspector you hire, the type of materials required and the timeframe that you want to finish within.
How do I know that I found the right Home Inspector in Bainbridge Island for my home inspection agencies project?
Finding the right home inspector for your project can be stressful.... when you don't search with Porch. We've pulled together everything you need to know about Home Inspection Agencies in Bainbridge Island so you can have some peace of mind before starting your project.
Here’s what you need to know to choose the right home inspector in Bainbridge Island:
- Are they BBB accredited? 3 pros in Bainbridge Island are.
- Check if they are they BBB rated: 14 are A-rated in Bainbridge Island.
- Is the quality worth the price? Make sure to find the home inspector that can deliver the quality you're looking for, without going way over your budget. Don't forget that every job is going to be different.
- Speak with them over the phone: Contact multiple home inspectors pros to see if you’re on the same page when it comes to your project.
All Home Inspectors in Bainbridge Island, WA
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