Before hiring a home inspector in Maryland ask these four questions.
1) What is your license number? A home inspector MUST be licensed in Maryland. It’s the law. And it’s the first step in verifying the home inspector knows what he/she is doing. Be sure to go to the official Maryland DLLR license page and verify they actuall have a valid home inspector’s license in Maryland.
2) What is your education and experience? Don’t just ask about home inspection experience, go further. Try to learn about their overall experience. What field does the inspector come from? Electrician? Plumber? Engineer? Were they a builder or former contractor? Get an understanding about what they know. Make sure you ask if they have higher education. Don’t hesitate to ask for proof of education.
3) How long will the inspection take? This is crucial because it gives a basic idea of how thorough they inspector is. Home inspections should take about 3 hours. Condo inspections, maybe 2 hours. If the home inspector says anything less, or when the time comes to do the inspection actually does less, question them on it. Time means thoroughness. Thoroughness means quality.
4) How much will it cost? This is the last question and you should weigh their education and experience versus the cost. Inspection rates very GREATLY. Make sure you know what you are paying for. At Kemp Home Inspections, we charge average prices but offer much more in regard to experience and education.
Hope that helps!
-Greg
