District Environmental Services
Washington, DC 20016 202-526-0028
Ratings
Be the first to rate
You won't find anything else like Checkbook
- Nonprofit and independent
- Takes no advertising or referral fees
- Ratings and reviews by surveyed Consumers' Checkbook and Consumer Reports local subscribers
- Thousands of undercover price comparisons
- Complaint counts from local consumer agencies and attorney general offices
Home Inspectors Articles
We Got 12 Home Inspections and Were Astonished at How Poorly Many of the Inspectors Performed
Given that we received very mixed reviews for home inspection services in our surveys of local consumers, we expected some companies in our test would perform better than others. But what really miffed us was how little work many inspectors bothered to do.
How to Inspect Your Home Inspector
Before hiring an inspector, get feedback from previous customers, ask what he or she will and won’t do, get sample reports, check credentials, and ask what happens if something important is missed.
Should You Skip Getting an Inspection?
In many hot real estate markets, eager buyers competing for the same homes often waive inspection contingencies to sweeten their offers. But this doesn’t mean you can’t get an inspection; you just have to squeeze one in before you make an offer/
Before an Inspection, Do Your Own Checks and Ask About Current and Past Problems
Hold off on paying hundreds of dollars for an inspection until you perform your own checks for big problems that might make you run away from the deal. And ask the seller to disclose current and past problems.
What You Should Do During Your Home Inspection
During your inspection, pay attention and participate. Make sure all problems found are clearly recorded in your report with pictures and descriptions.
Asking Sellers for Help to Fix Defects
Our advice: Pick and choose your battles, and whenever possible seek middle ground.