Your Certified Building Inspector: Real Or Fake?

By MyVine | February 22, 2011

So you are now moving to a new home and since you are about to sell your old dwelling and looking to buy a new one, the need for a certified building inspector is all the more urgent. No doubt you’ve scoured the net for things to look for when hiring a building inspector, but what about the things to avoid?

The world we live in is a hodgepodge of characters, from honest ones to downright scum. Even if you are honest and sincere with all your dealings, there are still people who are out to cheat you no matter who you are. But instead of trying to match their evil quotient, why not avoid them altogether? Learn the signs that warn you to steer clear of someone, be it they are a baker, a stranger, a cook or a building inspector.

A sure sign that a residential building inspector is not the kind you’d want to deal with is the way he presents himself. Here’s something to think about: Let’s say you ask to meet with a certain inspector, and you agree to meet in a fancy restaurant. You plan to talk about what his plans are basically. But when he arrives, you are aghast to see him wearing a pair of flip flops, in board shorts and a tank top. His hair is unkempt, and he looks like he just got out of bed. This is fine if you are meeting on a beach, but he knows beforehand you will be meeting at a fancy place. What does that tell you about him as a certified building inspector? To make matters worse, when you are discussing the project, he seems ill prepared, his notes are non-existent and he uses the salt and pepper shakers as his presentation. Would you really want to have someone like him doing the inspection? Who is to say he does the inspection ill prepared and in an unprofessional manner too?

Another thing that should give off red flags is if he or she is telling the truth. An inspector that dresses and acts professional does not mean they are professional, but an inspector who lies, well, there’s no question they are unfit for the job. You can do a little research on a person, but sometimes you can know more after you have met. Say he or she gives you a list of projects he allegedly did. Impressive all, but when you double check his resume, it seems he or she is lying about the projects. It seems that they are using other people’s works and passing them off as their own. Would like to deal with someone like that?

Of course there are many more signs if a certified building inspector is who he says he is, and the best advice I could give you is use common sense. You really don’t want to end up like a friend of mine, who hired a contractor, paid him in full, and never saw him ever again. Moral of the story? Use common sense. I cannot stress that enough. Do not pay in full until the complete building inspection service has been rendered, and do not hire someone if you have even a hint of doubt as to he or she is. Do your research, ask around and stick to contractors with a solid track record.

Topics: General | Comments Off

Comments are closed.