Historically, if a buyer is unaware of a defect prior to making an offer, the natural tendency is to negotiate the price once the defect becomes known after their home inspection. With prior knowledge from the seller's home inspection report, the defect instead is taken into consideration before the offer is made and there is less leverage for re-negotiations.
 

The seller's strongest position is at the time the buyer first presents an offer to purchase. If negotiation starts subsequent to the buyer's home inspection, the seller is mentally set for a sale, but perhaps more inclined to give concessions to avoid the deal falling apart. With prior knowledge a seller can either:
 

a) offer the house "as-is"
 

b) repair the defect using their contractor of choice
 

c) downgrade (e.g. remove a rotted deck or underground storage tank)
 

Above all, the seller's inspection report gives a fixed point of reference for everyone involved to work from before the sales agreement is signed.
 

How do I find a good home inspector?
 

Not all inspection companies are alike, and selecting the wrong company could cost you thousands of dollars in repair and replacement costs. Consider the following when shopping for home inspection companies.
 

• Experience: How much experience do the inspectors have and how long have they have been in the business? The best home inspectors have been in business for years and have seen thousands of homes.
   

   

• Home Inspection Training: Have the inspectors gone through any extensive home inspection training? In many states inspectors can simply call themselves home inspectors without any training or licensing.
   

   

• Association Membership: Is the inspector a member of a professional home inspection organization? Companies that are affiliated with professional organizations are serious about what they do, and know about all the new developments in their fields. Some well-known trade associations are: American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) and National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI). Inspectors in your area can be located through these associations.
   

   

• Liability Insurance: Does the inspector carry Professional Liability Insurance (Errors and Omissions Insurance)? If you ever need to collect on a legal judgment, an inspector without insurance my not be able to pay your claim.
   

U.S. Inspect, America's leading national home inspection company, has been in business since 1986 and has over one million inspections of experience - by far the largest number in the industry. Each inspector is put through a rigorous in-field and classroom schedule that can take up to 3 months to complete, including technical, communication and interpersonal skills. All inspectors are affiliated with ASHI, or an equivalent trade organization and their inspections meet or exceed the standards of practice recommended by those associations. The company carries full E&O coverage.