Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Copy Link
Home Inspections
Do I Need A Home Inspection?
How will a home inspection benefit me if Idaho is
unregulated?
The purchase of a home is the single most costly investment most
people make, and you want to know what you are getting for your hard-earned money. It is important
that you learn as much as possible about the condition of the home and the need for any major repairs
before you buy so that you can avoid any unpleasant surprises and difficulties later. Inspections
are a good way for homebuyers to assure themselves that the home they are buying is in good
condition.
Idaho is known as a “caveat emptor” state, that means “let the buyer beware”. It is very
important for buyers to check out the property before closing, although sellers are required to
reveal any known problems with the house that have to do with health and safety.
A home inspection is neither an appraisal, which determines
the market value of a home nor a municipal inspection, which verifies compliance with local
codes. A real estate agent will not determine for you the condition of the property. It
is your responsibility as a buyer to ascertain the condition of the property.
Since Idaho does not regulate the home inspection industry or require state licensing, how do we
tell the difference between a qualified home inspector and some random guy with a fancy name
tag? Joshua
McKay, the owner of Lake City Inspections, was kind
enough to offer some pointers;
“In the absence of state licensing we can look at certifications from reputable sources. The
International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) is the largest association
of professional inspectors in the world.
continuing education each year and establishes a minimum Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics that
their Certified Professional Inspectors must abide by to maintain certification. There is also a smaller
trade association called American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) that has similar requirements.”
In the absence of state
licensing we can look at certifications from reputable sources. The International
Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) is the largest association of
professional inspectors in the world.
This is good stuff to know. The combination of Idaho’s caveat
emptor policy and lack of licensing requirements for home inspections could potentially leave an unlucky
home buyer with a pretty bad case of buyers remorse. Joshua went on to say;
“Ensure that you are verifying those certifications, as there
have been some rare and unfortunate cases of individuals lying about qualifications. Lastly, when
considering a home inspection company, also look into resources the company will provide to protect
their clients in the months and years to come after the inspection is complete. These often come
standard with the purchase of the home inspection and can include warranties on vital components of the
home or guarantees to buy the home back if something major was missed during the home
inspection.”
It would appear that this is yet another example where
actively participating, asking the right questions and doing your own research can pay off major
dividends. Like Frank said, “That’s Life.”
Update
An error in this article was spotted by Joshua McKay. As it would happen, Joshua is a local home
inspector and proprietor of
Lake City Inspections. Joshua picked up on the
error within minutes after it was posted on Facebook. His attention to detail struck me as a great
quality to find in a home inspector! After some messaging, I realized that I had totally lucked out and
Joshua lent his insight as a local home inspector to our humble publication. If you find yourself in
need of a home inspection I would seriously consider Joshua McKay’s Lake City Inspections. Thank you
very much, Joshua.
