"By the way...how much do you charge?"
As a home inspector and small business owner, this is a question I get asked quite a bit, which is just fine with me. I fully understand that we all have to watch our budgets a bit closer these days. Besides, nobody wants to spend more money than necessary and people want to know they are getting good value for their buck, especially when they are in the process of buying a home, a time when things can be a bit tight for many folks.
The fact is, I look forward to potential clients asking me about the fees I charge for my services - its gives me an opportunity to inform them why a home inspection will probably be the best investment they will make during their house hunting and home buying journey, provided it is done by an experienced person with the proper background and training. I can also inform them that my fees are about average for the work I do and that a typical home inspection in our region will cost between $400 and $450.
The problem with the question is, however, that, in the home inspection industry, as with most things in life, you most often get what you pay for. The size, age, and complexity of homes can vary greatly -some homes can be inspected just a couple of hours, while older and/or larger homes can take substantially longer to thoroughly inspect.
It is important to remember that the cost of your home inspection is only one factor to consider when choosing an inspection company. The methodology and thoroughness of a home inspection can vary substantially between home inspection companies and the end value of a home inspection can be boiled down to just one element - the capabilities and integrity of the person doing the inspecting. With that in mind, I always recommend that people who are in need of a home inspection ask a few more questions than "what do you charge", such as, "will you be walking on the roof", or "do you use an infrared camera".
Here's one thing you can be sure of, however, at Clarion Home Inspections we work hard to provide the most thorough home inspections possible. Our services provide our clients with the clear and detailed information they need at a time when they need it most. We love it when our customers thank us for the best home inspection they've ever had, something that happens quite often, if we do say so ourselves.
To assist our clients, Clarion Home Inspections accepts payment with cash, cheque, Visa, MasterCard or Interac Debit. We also provide our customers with free telephone consultation and support for as long as they own their home.
