Should you choose the cheapest home inspection

A home inspection is a critical part of the home-buying process. The purpose of the home inspection is to help you to understand the condition and problems associated with the home that you are considering buying. A thorough home inspection can help you to avoid buying a home that has significant issues, or it can help you to negotiate for repairs or a better price with the home’s current owners.

I’ve spoken to many homebuyers who are concerned about the cost of a home inspection. As the expenses of buying a home pile up, it is easy to understand why it might be tempting to do some comparison shopping and to choose the least expensive home inspection that you can find. However, this is not a good idea – here’s why. We’ve all heard the saying, “you get what you pay for.” This is certainly the case with home inspections. One of the most obvious reasons not to skimp on a home inspection is because there simply no substitute for experience.

All home inspectors in Texas are required to obtain a basic education in home construction and other home inspection topics, and this education gives the prospective home inspector a very basic knowledge. However, just as with a doctor, attorney, and most other professions, there is no substitute for experience. Every home inspector gains experience and becomes better at what they do as they encounter new situations and learn how and where to look for those hidden or hard-to-find problems in a home. What this means is that not all home inspectors or home inspections are the same. Even two experienced home inspectors will find and report a few things differently. No two inspectors will give you an identical report, but you will have a much better chance of getting a thorough home inspection if you hire a more-experienced inspector. Some home inspectors offering low prices do so because they are new and are trying to break into the market. This doesn’t necessarily mean they’re not good – but it likely means that they do not have a lot of experience.

In conclusion, whether you are spending $50,000 or $500,000 on your new home, is it worth taking the chance with a less-experienced inspector in order to save a few dollars? The choice is yours.