What is a "Q & A" page?
"Q & A" page is a clever, yet annoying marketing scheme designed to corral, and subsequently lead the consumer's thoughts and questions down a twisted path solely to allow for, and construct a favorable answer. We here at Gateway, much like our inspection criterion, advocate a much more free and liberal forum. Therefore, if you do have any specific questions for us please feel free to contact us, at your convenience, at 720-334-7017.

by Jim Linke, President

Congratulations! You've decided to purchase a home. We all know that when purchasing a home, every detail is an important one. And choosing a home inspector is no exception. It's critical to choose an inspector the same way you've chosen a real estate professional - very carefully! You'll get a great educational experience when you hire a professional with the right credentials.
Working with a home inspector isn't complicated; however, unless armed with the right questions to ask, you may get stuck with a less than capable individual. Here are my top 6 questions to ask your next home inspector:

1) Does the completed report include photographs, including infrared images?
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Often, the report will contain descriptions of damage or defect in locations of the home that only the inspector was able to access, like roof-tops or crawl spaces. You will want pictures of these areas to make the location of the damage clear. It also makes the repair process simpler when a photograph is available, since there is no confusion for the tradesperson making the repair. But what of the scope of repair in those damaged areas? Peace of mind does not come from a regular inspector raising questions, and then leaving them unanswered. Peace of mind comes from knowing precisely what the visual symptoms really mean. That level of confidence can only be reached with the use of an infrared camera in the hands of an Texas Infrared Certified home inspector. Infrared allows an Thermalgrapher Certified inspector to essentially "see the invisible", which brings a level of understanding and comfort to the inspection that cannot be reached with any other tool.

2) Does the inspector hold the appropriate license and meet all requirements for home inspectors in your area or state, and where can you go to verify this license? This question may not be applicable in all states - there are states without licensing requirements for home inspectors (for instance, here in Colorado, there is currently no state regulation of home inspectors). But if your state has some kind of requirements, you need to know what they are, and where you can go to verify that your chosen inspector has done what it takes to be state-compliant. Verification is essential, because many states have the capability to track continuing education of the inspector as well as complaints.

3) Is the inspector a member of the Housing Inspection Foundation or any othere accredited certification? This is critical! One of the largest, and most respected organization for home inspectors in the country. They also maintain the highest standards and ethics for home inspectors. If your inspector is a member of this organization, you can be sure that they have passed rigorous testing, The National Home Inspectors Exam. You can even verify membership status at www.IAMI.org. The inspector may be a member of other organizations, but none have requirements as strict as UBC,IRC,Texas Infrared,ICBO,ITI,SMACNA ETC. And don't be fooled by those companies who claim to be certifed! find someone who is!

4) How long has the inspector been in the inspection business, and how many inspections has he performed during this time? Longevity gives comfort that the inspector will be with you in the future as new needs and issues arise. But if he's only done 15 inspections during his several years in business, that's not good! Your home buying decision is far too important to be a practice place for a part-time inspector.

5) Will your inspector walk on the roof, crawl in the crawlspace, go into the basement, and climb into the attic space (if any of these are applicable)? Your inspector should be capable of going and willing to go into those places where others fear to tread! These are the places that must be seen to best protect the customer. There times when those locations cannot be completely inspected due to physical risk to the inspector, risk to the equipment, or seasonal limitations. But for the inspector to not inspect those locations because he doesn't want to, is scared of the dark, or is too ample to fit into those spaces is unacceptable.

6) When will the completed report be delivered, and can it be emailed? Often the buying decision is time critical, you want to be sure you will receive your completed report in time to read, review, and respond. The best companies can deliver the report to you on-site, right at the home, just as the inspection is completed. Your inspection company should also be able to email your report to anywhere you need it to go - after all, it is the 21st century!

Jim Linke Multi-Certified Inspector