Paid $600 for a 'certified' home inspector in Decatur and missed a leaking roof

I hired a guy with great reviews on Google to check out a 1920s bungalow before buying. He missed a slow leak in the roof that cost me $1,800 to fix three months in. How do you actually vet an inspector in this city without just trusting the first name you find?

3 comments

3 Comments

carter.laura22d ago

Yeah reviews can be faked or old, ask for their last three reports and call those homeowners.

grantp2820d agoMost Upvoted

Wait, did you check if that "certified" guy even had errors and omissions insurance? I learned that the hard way too - paid a guy $500 for a FULL inspection on a 1940s place and he missed a basement leak that cost me over $2k. @carter.laura is totally right about asking for past reports, that's what I do now. Calling those homeowners saved me from hiring a TOTAL hack last year.

fiona_murphy22d ago

@carter.laura makes a solid point about calling past clients. I'd also recommend checking their licensing through the city of Decatur's building department directly. Most people don't realize certified doesn't mean licensed or insured here. Ask if they carry errors and omissions insurance specifically. If they balk at showing you proof, you've found your red flag. Also try to find an inspector who does follow up thermal imaging for old houses like that 1920s bungalow. Leaks are easy to miss otherwise, especially with cast iron pipes and that old framing.