Recently, I was showing homes in Brownsburg, Indiana to a couple with a curious 14-year-old daughter. The daughter asked me a question that I found interesting coming from somebody so young, yet it’s a common question for Realtors.

She wanted to know who would chose the home inspector if her parents purchased the home. I told her that her parents would choose the inspector.

As a Realtor, I don’t like to recommend a certain inspector in case my clients are not happy or if a problem appears once my clients have moved into the home. I want to ensure them that the inspection is independent of the sales process.

What I will do is offer my clients a list of companies, in no certain order, for them to pick. I also recommend that they look at the inspector’s service record via a company such as Angie’s List. The main thing is to make sure the inspector has a good reputation and is licensed to do home inspections. They can also look to the American Society of Home Inspectors, which certifies and trains home inspectors.

Once they select an inspector, I recommend that my client be present during the inspection. By doing so, they can get a better understanding of how serious or how incidental the problem may be. This allows the inspector to explain the problem to you face-to-face in addition to the inspection report.

Because most homebuyers aren’t well versed in home maintenance, the inspection report often overwhelms buyers. For example, if an inspector says there is reverse polarity in an electrical outlet, that sounds pretty terrible, but in actuality, this problem can be fixed in five minutes.

I do not want my clients in Brownsburg, Zionsville, Carmel or Indianapolis to get burned with a poor inspection. So pick out a good inspector and stay with him/her during the inspection. And if your teenager is curious, invite them to help find a home inspector – they’ll learn a valuable lesson for when they get ready to buy their first home!