Top 3 Home Inspectors in Tacoma, WA
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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 Tacoma Home Inspectors
Robert replaced some carpet and laminate in our upstairs with new laminate. This included a hallway and two bedrooms. It looked great at first and Robert was really easy to communicate with. However, after a short time the hallway flooring started bowing ...
Robert and his team remodeled a foreclosed home we purchased in Renton, and we couldn't be happier with the results. This home was severely outdated and even came with not one, but 2 drug rooms from the previous owners. The roof also appeared to have ne...
If I could give him zero or negative stars I would. Robert, while a kind and personable man, did a horribly incomplete and ineffective inspection on our new home. He didn’t completely inspect the attic and missed a roof leak , a large amount of mold and a...
Professional and on-time. Bid came in low and work was done in a timely and clean fashion.
Mr. Clawson is a professional in every way. He is engaged in every aspect of the remodel. He takes time to listen to others and their ideas. Robert strives to take the high road in all endeavors and this indicates a good moral compass. Service to oth...
Great work. He came in and removed a previous job that was done incorrectly. I would highly recommend. I hope he will be available for future work. THANK you. I will be handing your business cards out!
They were very helpful, professional & polite. We will always use them, & we appreciate there patience.
Everything You Need to Know About Tacoma Home Inspectors
Should I hire home inspectors with lower ratings in Tacoma to save money?
The type of home inspector company that you should hire really depends on the difficulty and specifications of your project. Keep in mind that lower ratings could be a sign of unsuccessful jobs or simply that the professional or company has not done many jobs quite yet. Either way, you will still want to contact any Home Inspectors you are considering and inquire about their work history. There are plenty of great Home Inspectors in Tacoma that have very few or low ratings.
For example, right now in Tacoma there are:
How do I know I am getting a fair price for Home Inspection Agencies work in Tacoma?
Every Home Inspection Agencies job has different requirements. Remember that the price will differ depending on the scope of your project. However, that doesn't mean you have to go in blind. Check out our tips for getting a fair price for Tacoma work from Home Inspectorsbelow:
- Talk to a few different Home Inspectors and ask for quotes to compare. We have around 50 professionals and companies in Tacoma for you to compare.
- Before contacting a company, check out the ratings and reviews from previous customers to learn what others have paid, how long the Home Inspectors took on the job, and how satisfied they were.
Will Home Inspection Agencies work in Tacoma require permits, inspections, special licenses, etc.?
Whether you’re home inspector job is in Tacoma or any other city, you're going to want to do a bit of research before hiring home inspectors. Even small jobs may have certain regulations around them. Often, the home inspector performing the work will have any required permits, inspections, etc. under control, but not always. Short answer: Research yourself and double check with the home inspection agencies folks that everything is in order.
All Home Inspectors in Tacoma, WA
Latest projects near Tacoma
Within a week
Inspect a roof
Sloped or pitched
Asphalt or composite shingle
To buy or sell the home
I'm not sure
Two floors
I'm flexible
Home safety
Home safety
Single family residence
2,501-3,000 sq ft
11-20 years
Unknown
Owner
Yes
Yes
None of the above
I'm flexible
Purchasing property
Whole home
Single family residence
2,001-2,500 sq ft
31-40 years
Slab on ground
Buyer
No
Yes
None of the above
Within 48 hours
I need to have a fence wall inspected to make sure the structure is good and will not fall down.
Home safety
Single family residence
0-1,500 sq ft
0-10 years
Unknown
Owner
Yes
Yes
None of the above
I'm flexible
Inspect a roof
Sloped or pitched
Asphalt or composite shingle
To get roof certified, To buy or sell the home
Yes
One floor
I'm flexible
Purchasing property
Whole home
Single family residence
0-1,500 sq ft
31-40 years
Raised with crawl space
Agent
Yes
Yes
Sewer cam inspection
Within a month
Close to the end of the builders 1 year warranty and I want to do a thorough inspection to see that everything is OK or attention needs to be brought to a certain area.
Whole home
Single family residence
1,501-2,000 sq ft
0-10 years
Raised with crawl space
Owner
Yes
Yes
None of the above
Within 48 hours
Purchasing property
Whole home
Single family residence
0-1,500 sq ft
51+ years
Slab on ground
Buyer
No
Yes
Separate structure, Lead paint test
Within a week
Environmental issues
Energy efficiency audit
Single family residence
1,501-2,000 sq ft
51+ years
Basement
Owner
Yes
Yes
None of the above