HomExpert Resource Center

Welcome to the Prudential Resource Center

One Stop Services

Title Insurance

Mortgage Financing

Homeowners

Insurance

HOMEInspection

HOMEssentials

Relocation Services

Utility Connections

Real Estate
For Dummies

Real Estate
Market Information

Home Inspections

ABOUT HOME INSPECTIONS

A Home Inspection is a very important part of the home buying process. Home inspections generally provide buyers with information about the property’s major systems including, although not limited to, heating, air conditioning, plumbing and electrical systems, foundation and structure, roof and flashing and possible environmental conditions affecting the property. Expect to receive a written report from the home inspector. Choosing a qualified inspector to perform the inspection can be a daunting task. Generally speaking, the following is a list of items that should be taken into account when choosing a Home Inspector:

Ask the Home Inspection Company to provide proof of Errors and Omissions Insurance Coverage. Amounts of insurance coverage vary, so be sure to evaluate this item with the assistance of an insurance professional.
Ask the Home Inspection Company to provide proof of General Liability Insurance Coverage. Again, coverage amounts vary, and should be evaluated with the assistance of an insurance professional.
Obtain the name of any professional organizations the company or individual are members of and follow up with that organization.
Ask the Home Inspection Company whether it is licensed by the state and/or local governmental authorities to conduct home inspections.

Below are links to websites for three professional associations of home inspectors with members in the Mid-Atlantic region*. You can easily search them for members in your area.

www.nachi.org
www.ashi.org
www.nahi.org

*These links to national home inspection associations are provided on this website as a matter of convenience for the customers of Prudential Fox & Roach REALTORS® ("PFR"), and are not intended to serve as a complete directory of home inspectors who may be qualified to perform inspections in your geographic area. PFR makes no representations as to the quality of services provided by any of the inspectors listed on any of the linked websites.

By clicking on the national home inspection association links, you agree to release PFR from any and all cost, damage, legal action or expense related to the selection and use of any of the inspectors listed on any of the linked websites and further agree to defend and indemnify PFR in the event that PFR incurs any cost, including attorney’s fees, arising out of your reliance upon any of the listed inspectors.

You should make your own investigations and inquiries concerning the qualifications and competency of any home inspector you are giving consideration to hiring. Consult an attorney if you have any questions about any of the state laws governing home inspectors. You are encouraged to choose any inspector you wish and are not obligated to hire any inspector listed on any of the linked websites.

Additionally, many states have enacted laws governing the licensing and/or professional conduct of home inspectors. Such laws exist in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and are under consideration in Delaware. You are urged to review these laws before you hire a home inspector, since, depending upon the state, they can contain valuable information about minimum requirements for training, insurance and consumer contracts utilized by home inspectors. If you have any questions about these, or any other legal issues, be sure to consult an attorney. For your convenience, these laws can be found at:

Pennsylvania Home Inspection Law, 68 P.S. § 7501, et seq. New Jersey Home Inspection Professional Licensing Act, 45:8-61, et seq. In Delaware, the proposed laws are HB 347 and HB 534.

The data relating to real estate for sale on this website appears in part through the TReND Broker Reciprocity^SM program, a voluntary cooperative exchange of property listing data between licensed real estate brokerage firms in which Prudential Fox & Roach, Realtors participates, and is provided by TReND through a licensing agreement. Real Estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Prudential Fox & Roach, Realtors are marked with the Broker Reciprocity icon (a little black house) and detailed information about each listing includes the name of the listing broker. Some properties which appear for sale on this website may subsequently have sold and may no longer be available. The information being provided by this website is for personal, non-commercial use of consumers and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Â© 2009 TReND. All Rights Reserved.