From Homescape

If you go to Amazon or eBay, you’ll notice ratings of different products. In fact, ratings are popping up all over the Internet, and to be honest, the real estate community is not too happy about this trend. A recent study in Texas showed that customer complaints of real estate agents were not cited within their employment file. In fact, no one in Texas really monitors agents with poor customer service. Once these agents move to another firm, they get to start off with a clean slate.        

Rating system          
As for home inspectors, most operate as independent contractors, so it’s unlikely they’ll provide a history of consumer complaints to a new client. There are some sites like Yellowpages.com which have ratings, but most clients of inspection services never go there to rate their inspector. In my coverage area, one inspector is rated five stars because two people said they liked him, and another received three stars because one person said they’d recommend his services. The other roughly nine hundred and ninety seven inspectors in the area have no ratings.

Another site I found, will rate an inspector as an expert if he has been in business for three years, but everyone else will be deemed a novice. I personally would like to see Realtor associations or a very active real estate agency provide a rating system for inspectors and other industry professionals directly on their Web sites. The rating system doesn’t have to be solely based on customer complaints. A part of the rating system could include the number of years an inspector has on the job or the number of referrals from past clients. But regardless of what’s included on the rating sheet, customer feedback is absolutely needed.

Asking the right questions
So how do you determine if you have a good inspector? I’ve found the best way is through a thorough interview process. Although inspection standards are different around the country, all inspections are visual, and they should cover the structure, the plumbing, the electrical system, the appliances and mechanical systems — such as heating and cooling, and the water heater. Here are five top questions I recommend asking an inspector:

1. What do you check?
Keep the above list in mind.

2. What is your price, and what does it include?
There is no standard pricing structure for inspections, so make sure the price includes everything in the list to be inspected. Also, some states have strict rules about termite inspections, so this may or may not be included.

3. How do you perform an inspection?
Remember, inspections are visual. If the inspector starts talking about the number of equipment needed for the job, he’s just trying to impress you — and probably charge you more. You may need some of that equipment for a special case, but a home inspection should require few tools.

4. If you have to come back out, is that an extra charge?
For example, you think that the utilities are on, but when the inspector is there, they’re off, so he can’t do a full inspection. This situation is handled very differently by individual inspectors. I have never liked the idea of charging somebody again for work that was not performed the first time, but it was paid for.

5. What are some common problems that you find in an inspection?
Have the inspector explain why something is a problem and make sure they explain it clearly to you. If you’re clueless on the explanations, it’s not likely you’ll be able to make sense of their report. Keeping yourself informed will protect you from getting scammed out of any unneeded expenses.

The most important thing to remember when working with an inspector is communication. The inspector needs to be able to communicate with you, so you can understand what is happening within your new home. Different states regulate inspector through licensing, certification, regulations, or sometimes not at all. To help show you what an inspector should have to be able to work in your area, check out this site:
Aninspectorslog.wordpress.com/information-on-inspectors/

Frank Schulte-Ladbeck, Professional Real Estate Inspector