Finding a reliable Columbia SC home inspector is a "must-do" thing when buying a home.

A thorough home inspection can help to uncover hidden damage and shine some light on potentially costly future repairs. But home inspections aren't just completed to keep the buyer safe — they can help to protect the real estate professional too. Informed buyers are more likely to be satisfied with their purchase and, as a result, they'll be far less likely to come back to haunt you after the sale closes.

Make sure any Columbia SC home inspector you decide to hire is professional and qualified, will do a thorough job, and won't be afraid to crawl under the house to make sure the floor isn't about to cave in!

7 Questions To Help Evaluate a Columbia SC Home Inspector

1 – Are you licensed? – Some states don't have any licensing requirements, so be sure to ask if the Columbia SC home inspector you're considering is licensed or not.

2 – What Credentials Do You Have? – There are a number of professional organizations that provide credentials, including ASHI and NAHI. Watch out for those who claim a "company certification" or any type of "in-house accreditation system" that's not subject to overriding industry standards.

3 – How Much Experience Do You Have? – The NAHI and ASHI require a minimum of 250 inspections. Many industry professionals say that finding someone who has performed at least 1,000 inspections and has three to five years of full-time experience is important. When browsing the home inspector's website, watch out for wording designed to make it look like they have more experience than they actually do. Remember, "industry experience" doesn't necessarily mean experience actually inspecting homes.

4 – Are You Insured? – Even the best inspectors can make mistakes. It's important to ask for proof of insurance for both errors and omissions and general liability. Always avoid inspectors who aren't insured, and watch out for inspectors who severely limit their liability coverage.

5 – Do You Offer a Guarantee? – Does the Columbia SC home inspector stand by his report? Does he offer any guarantees? Some home inspectors offer optional 90-day warranties that will help cover repairs or replacement costs. Be sure to check into such offers, paying special attention to the fine print and exclusions.

6 – Do You Have Sample Reports? – This will help you to gauge how thorough their inspections will be. Most any reputable Columbia SC home inspector will be more than happy to provide you with one if they don't already have one displayed on their website.

7 – How Long Will Your Inspection Take? – According to ASHI, a home inspection can take two to four hours or longer, depending upon the size of the home. Watch out for inspectors who offer "specials" for one-hour inspections—anything less than two hours may be an indicator of a less-than-thorough job.

Get more information as it pertains to finding a Columbia SC home inspector in our section on Columbia SC Home Inspections to your right under Columbia SC Real Estate Categories.

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There are lots of reasons for selling a Columbia SC home, but there are many reasons why getting the home inspected first can be a key selling feature to buyers.

Why Get An Inspection Before Selling a Columbia SC Home?

One of the biggest reasons for getting your home inspected before you even put it on the market is, it helps your buyers see you as an honest seller. This makes the process more amicable as fears of being swindled are reduced and a certain trust factor is established right up front.

Getting a home inspection done if you're selling a Columbia SC home also protects your interests. Many people fear getting a home inspection because it may reveal detrimental things about the house that need to be fixed. On the other hand, it may uncover advantages in your home that enhance its value that no one knew about before. This gives you more power at the bargaining table. Imagine being able to increase your asking price because your home inspector discovered something new about the building. The home inspector can also offer tips on improvements that need to be made. Often time these improvements may enable you to increase your asking price for a lot less than having a buyer find the problem and request that you reduce the price when they make an offer.

On the flip side, getting a home inspection can serve as a heads up. If there are major issues, such as a damp basement, these are highlighted so you can get them taken care of before putting the property on the market or reduce your asking price to compensate for the flaw. Failure to do this could lead to you wasting your time and efforts. Buyer after buyer may turn down your property after getting the place inspected themselves. They may decide that for the asking price there are simply too many flaws and things to be fixed. You are also protected from asking for an unrealistic price and having the unit avoided like the plague because of an asking price that is just too high.

You're also protected from unfounded claims by a home inspection after an offer is made. This means if a defect emerges after the sale and your home inspection report does not support this flaw then you have your inspection to fall back on supporting your side of the deal. No need to be forced to use the proceeds of the sale of your home to effect renovation to a home that is no longer yours.

If you're thinking of selling a Columbia SC home, call a home inspector to check out the property first. Protect yourself and your family from unnecessary problems.

Find more news articles as they relate to selling a Columbia SC home in the Columbia SC Home Selling Tips section under Columbia SC Real Estate Categories to your right. And find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for daily updates we post there as well.

Every now and again, we get a buyer who says to us, "Why do we need to get a Columbia SC home inspection?" Or "Why is it so important to get a Columbia SC home inspection?" Or "Why should we get a home inspection if we're buying a new home?"

The temptation is there for skipping a Columbia SC home inspection and saving the few hundred dollars the inspection will cost in order to buy a piece of furniture or new curtains instead.

Our advice? Don't Do It!

Many flipped Columbia SC houses are houses that have gone through foreclosure or a short sale, have been purchased by an investor, some cosmetic repairs made, then put back on the market for unsuspecting home buyers to fall into.

If you're thinking about looking at flipped Columbia SC houses as an option to find a good deal, there are some things you need to do and look for in order not to get ripped off in the process.

Being in the business of seeing and showing a lot of homes, we can testify to the fact that a vast majority of flipped Columbia SC houses are just plain shoddy homes that have been covered with a layer of makeup. Always, always, always — get a home inspection on any home you plan to purchase, especially flipped Columbia SC houses, which tend to be more risky. The price of a home inspection is small compared to the price you might end up paying for some major home repair. Do yourself a favor, don't skip the home inspection.