Three questions you should ask first...
If you're just shopping around for prices, you should be asking at least three other questions before you ask price.
But first, think about this. You are spending a lot of money buying very expensive real estate. Is your home inspection really something that you want the lowest price on? Will you get what you paid for?
Now for the questions;
(1) Ask them if they are full-time, professional home inspectors. You will find quite a few inspectors who do only a couple of inspections a month to pay their gas & electric bill. I work six days a week (and evenings, too) doing nothing but home inspections.
(2) Ask if they carry insurance. In this industry, they should carry liability insurance. That insurance is very expensive and usually is not affordable for the part-time home inspector. I carry a large amount of insurance, and I am bonded.
(3) Ask if they are members of any trade associations. Membership in trade associations is expensive and membership requires home inspectors to obtain annual continuing education, also expensive. I am a firm believer in trade associations, and I believe a valuable membership is with service organizations. I belong to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
and IHINA(Independant Home Inspectors of North America).
After you get answers to those questions, then ask what their price is. Based on their previous answers, you can make a very good guess as to what price they will be charging.
There are home inspectors who charge under $150 and occasionally have $99 specials. They probably are not the home inspectors you want because they are not full-time home inspectors carrying insurance for the work they do. And they cannot afford to take the time to give you the service you deserve.
"the bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten" (Author unknown)
Anyone else is just 'looking around'
USPTO Ser. No. 78663905
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