After you select a home to purchase, you and your real estate agent will discuss the terms and conditions of the offer that you want to make on the property.  Your real estate agent will suggest that you make an offer an a home “subject to a home inspection”.  Your real estate agent will provide you with a minimum of 3 names of licensed inspectors.  Before hiring a home inspector, you should conduct a phone interview.  Here are some questions to consider asking a home inspector.

• What are your qualifications as a home inspector?  Are you a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors or National Association of Home Inspectors?
• Can I have your current Washington State Home Inspector License number?
• How many inspection of properties such as this do you do in a year?
• Can you provide me with the contact information of past clients that I can contact?
• Do you carry professional errors and omission insurance?  do you furnish a copy of the policy?
• do you provide any guarantees of your work?
• What specifically will the inspection cover?
• What type of report will I receive and how long will it take to receive it?
• How long will the inspection take?
• How much will the inspection cost?
• Do you do a structural and a pest inspection?

We are lucky to have many well qualified inspectors in Skagit County, so make sure that you hire one that is thorough, professional, and well trained.