How do I select a Home Inspector (pt 1)

Selecting a home inspector takes time and research on your part as a home buyer. Did you know the Oregon State Construction Contractors Board has a website you can use to find a home inspector? Here is the site: https://search.ccb.state.or.us/search/

Open this page and type in the inspector's CCB number. You can find this number on their web page. Each contractor (this includes home inspectors) is required to post their CCB number on any advertising, including the website. If they do not have the CCB number posted, I would not use them as they are not following state requirements. My CCB number is 181879. When you open the page and enter the number, the contractor's license opens. There is a small amount of info present on this page. Click on the highlighted CCB number. This gives you a small amount of additional information such as if the home inspector (or any contractor) has received disciplinary actions from the state. Click on "Learn more about this business" (highlighted link). This page has insurance information about the company and home inspector. It also shows other names used by this inspector. You might ask, why would an inspector have another completely different name? Well, some home inspectors have a criminal past and change their name. At the bottom of this page is an additional link: Click here to see past assumed business names. This will give you other business names you can research.

What can you learn from all this info? You can see these items about the company and inspector:

1. The inspector is actually licensed.

2. When they were originally licensed.

3. What the insurance company is and how much they are insured for.

4. Surety bond company.

5. Any penalties levied against the inspector or the business.

6. Names of individuals involved with the company.

7. Alias names used by inspector(s).

8. Address of the business.

Another option is a website https://www.ccblookup.com/

This website give you a score on the contractor to help you understand the trust associated with an inspector or contractor.

More to come on this subject.