Whether you buy it new or used, a house represents a major financial investment. The average home loan lasts for 30 years. To avoid getting stuck with a money pit that will drain you of every cent you have, it is important to find a good home inspector who will tell you everything you need to know about the crop of Brooklyn houses for sale. Because home inspections are expensive, you only have one chance at to get the home looked at by a professional. Spending some time now looking for a person with a discerning eye can save you thousands of dollars and lots of aggravation in the future.Licensing – It is unfortunate but true that not all home inspectors are licensed in the State of New York which means they are doing home inspections on Brooklyn houses for sale illegally. They may tempt you to use their services by doing them on the cheap but this can cost you more in the long run. New York requires home inspectors to carry liability insurance of at least $150,000 per incidence and $500,000 aggregate. Therefore, if something goes wrong you have recourse to collect for damages that result from a poor inspection. With an unlicensed inspector, you don’t have this protection.

Professional Associations – It is also a good idea to hire a home inspector who is a part of a professional organization. Although voluntary, these organizations typically weed out the duds which means you can be fairly confident you are getting someone with the knowledge and experience you need. The New York State Association of Home Inspectors is the largest organization for home inspectors in the state. Other organizations that the inspector may be a part of include the National Institute of Building Inspectors and the American Society of Home Inspectors.

Recommendations – Real estate agents often have the names of inspectors they have worked with. However, beware of taking their word for it since they have a financial stake in getting a good report from the inspector. Instead, ask friends and family members for the names of people they hired to inspect Brooklyn houses for sale. Additionally, use the internet to do a reputation check on the inspector. Unhappy clients are more than willing to share their experiences as a warning to others. While you can’t always believe everything you read on the internet, if a home inspector seems to have pages upon pages of complaints then it is best to move on to someone else.