Get matched with top home inspectors in Bloomfield, NM

Depending on your state, a home inspector may need a license. All states and the District of Columbia require home inspectors to undergo training. However, some states (such as New York, Texas, Washington, and Illinois) require state-issued licenses while others (including California, Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Virginia) do not.

Other professional certifications include the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) certification, the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) certification, and the National Home Inspector Examination. Inspectors can also receive certifications in specialized areas. These can include structural specialties, like chimneys, swimming pools, or septic systems, as well as specific issues like mold, pests, or radon gas. Whatever your situation, make sure your home inspector is certified to handle it.

You might consider demolishing a house if it has a faulty foundation, widespread mold or pest damage, or other significant issues. Older homes with outdated wiring systems or dangerous materials could also be good candidates for demolition. Or, if you’re planning to remodel the entire home, you might find that it’s more cost-effective to tear it all down and start from scratch.

Waiving a home inspection could be beneficial if you’re buying a home in a hot location where the seller has many other offers to consider, especially if other buyers are willing to waive the inspection. However, it’s not usually a good idea to waive an inspection, even on new construction. Inspections can identify problems that could cost thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars, so a formal inspection is always worthwhile. If you’re having a new home built, a pre-drywall inspection is often the most valuable, but a final inspection before you close is also a good idea.

In most cases, the most severe issue a home inspection report could identify is a structural problem, specifically related to the foundation. Foundation repairs are often the most expensive and intrusive repairs to carry out, averaging around $5,000 but sometimes reaching up to $16,000. You should ask questions during your home inspection about all of the issues your home inspector identifies, but you’ll likely need to think most about foundation problems and how they affect what you’re willing to pay for the home—that’s if you’re willing to move forward with the sale at all.