fir st one recommended to you. You need to take your time and do your research, as with most components of the home-buying process. Choosing the right inspector is the key to a thorough and comprehensive report. Search online, but be sure to pay special attention to reviews of the inspectors you fin d. Many real estate websites have a list of professionals with both ratings and reviews. Ask your friends and family members for a recommendation. Finally, remember that an excellent source of recommendations is the real estate agent with whom you’re working. Th is is yet another reason why I recommend that you work with an agent. An agent, among many other attributes discussed in this book, is a wealth of information when it comes to working with other professionals you’ll need along the way, such as mortgage brokers, home appraisers, and, in this case, home inspectors and experts. COMMON BUYER MISTAKES Many buyers, particularly fir st-time home buyers, make mistakes when it comes to the inspection component of the home-buying process. Some are willfully ignorant; others simply aren’t aware. Below you’ll fin d a short list of some of the more common mistakes. Mistake #1: Not attending the inspection. Some buyers don’t bother attending the inspection along with the inspector, looking only at the report that the inspection company provides. Th is is a common mistake during the home-buying process. But you really should take advantage of tagging along, as this is one of your fir st opportunities to fully take a tour around the entire house, with a house inspection expert, and see all of its features and condition for yourself, and up close. Mistake #2: Not asking questions. Th e second most common 128
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