Choosing a Home Inspector in Lake Forest

Inspection quotes vary more than people expect, and the temptation is to treat them as interchangeable and take the low one. It is worth a moment's thought, because the fee is small next to what the report is supposed to protect.

Ingraffia Home Inspections has been inspecting in Orange County since 2003. To book in Lake Forest, call (714) 371-8422 or request an inspection.

Price is the wrong first question

Do not let cost deter you from having an inspection, or from choosing an inspector you are comfortable with. The knowledge is worth the time and the expense - and the lowest-priced inspector is not necessarily a bargain.

The arithmetic is unusually plain here. If the inspection surfaces something the seller then repairs or credits before settlement, it has typically paid for itself several times over. The risk is not overpaying by a hundred dollars. The risk is a shallow inspection that misses the item you would have negotiated on.

What to compare instead

The inspector's qualifications should be the deciding factor: experience, training, and professional affiliations. Reasonable things to ask anyone you are considering:

• How long have they been inspecting, and how many inspections have they done
• What certifications do they hold, and with which bodies
• How much continuing education do they take each year
• Do they work for the buyer, or do they take referral work from the parties to the sale
• Can you see a sample report before you book

For our part: Ingraffia has been inspecting since 2003, with over 20,000 completed inspections and more than a thousand hours of inspection training. Mark is a Certified Combination Building Inspector in good standing with ICC, with at least 20 hours of continuing education a year. There is a sample report, and the rate card is published rather than quoted on request.

What the inspection covers

Grounds, exterior, utilities, interior, kitchen and bathrooms, with pools, spas and additional roofs priced as additions. Ask what is included before you compare two numbers - an inspection that excludes half the property is cheaper for a reason.