Your new home purchase is perhaps the largest investment your family will ever make. A complete property inspection conducted by a qualified reputable home inspection company should be an integral part of your home purchase decision.

Connecticut's real estate law requires that home sellers disclose in writing all material defects that they are aware of. A seller's property disclosure is somewhat restrictive in that it only discloses what the sellers actually know about their property. The trained eye of a professional home inspector will not only confirm the known facts about a property, but in many cases will uncover new information.

A home inspection is helpful to everyone in a real estate transaction: the buyer, the seller and the real estate agents. As a result, we strongly recommend that you recognize the value of a home inspection and that you employ the services of a professional home inspection company.

A Realty Partners staff member can assist you in the selection of a reputable home inspector.

Home Inspection Sites

• American Society of Home Inspectors: http://www.ASHI.com
• Freddie Mac: http://www.freddiemac.com/function/fm-homby/english/
• Home Inspection SuperSite: http://www.inspectamerica.com/
  

Here are some important guidelines to follow when selecting a home inspection company:

• Check the company's reputation: question how long they have been in business and whether home inspections are their only business.
• Check with a Realty Partners staff member: in many instances, one of our real estate professionals, through past experience, can assist you in confirming the reliability of the inspector.
• Ask about the inspector's report: a comprehensive inspection report should detail the condition of items throughout the home, covering a myriad of categories from structural and mechanical systems to environmental and safety issues to building code compliance and more. The findings should be presented in a complete, easy to read manner.
• Make sure the company has insurance: just in case something is overlooked during the inspection, make sure the company has the means to address the problem after the sale has been completed.
• Ask for their CT Home Inspectors License #: CT law now requires all home inspectors to have a State License. You can confirm this at: http://www.dcpaccess.state.us/