For the buyer’s protection, the importance of having a home inspected by a professional home inspector cannot be over-emphasized, regardless of whether the home is new or a resale. A home inspection is a visual physical examination, performed for a fee, designed to identify material defects in the home. The home inspector will generally provide the buyer with a report detailing information about the home’s condition. The inspector and the report will point out existing problems and possible potential problems. The buyer should carefully review this report with the inspector and ask the inspector about any item of concern. Pay attention to the scope of the inspection and any portions of the property excluded from the inspection.
Home inspectors must be licensed by the State of Arizona. A list of certified home inspectors may be found at the Arizona Board of Technical Registration website, www.btr.state.az.us. Additional information on inspections may be found at the American Society of Home Inspectors website, www.ashi.com, and guidance on hiring a home inspector may be found at www.realtor.com/basics/buy/inspnegot/hire.asp?gate=realtor&poe=propertystore