One of the most important steps in buying a New Orleans home is the property inspection. The quality of your home inspection is going to be directly related to the quality of the home inspector you choose, so picking the right one is a critical part of your due diligence.
How to choose a home inspector
Louisiana has some of the strictest rules for licensing home inspectors, so a good place to start would be the Home Inspection Board’s website.
But, rather than just choosing from a list, why not ask your agent?
As REALTORS®, we deal with local home inspectors day in and day out.
Your agent can tell you who they have worked with in the past that does a thorough inspection for a reasonable cost. Does the cost include a termite inspection? What about a video of the plumbing? Can they all be scheduled for the same day and time?
We can tell you about the guy that always takes entirely too long to deliver the finished report. A good agent also knows to steer buyers clear of that one inspector that always scares the pants off of them over the itty-bittiest things that aren’t, and shouldn’t be, a deterrent to buying a home. We’ve seen that crusty old inspector freak people out over an open junction box that just needs a 50 cent cover added and all will be well.
Ask your agent for a list of reputable companies or individuals that perform home, termite, plumbing, roofing, and HVAC inspections. And definitely don’t skip this step just because you’re buying new construction!
At the end of the day, it’s your choice whether you hire a professional or let Uncle Joe give his opinion, but remember that the seller is going to ask for documentation of any requested repairs, so we always recommend that you use a licensed and insured inspector for any house you plan to purchase.
