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Eight Reasons to Choose Peter W. Bennett - New Jersey Licensed Home Inspector


1.  Get A Home Inspection From The Owner Of The Company:

Nobody works harder for you the client than the owner of the company! The success of the business depends on exceeding your expectations for quality and professionalism each and every time and you just don’t get that level of service from “employee inspectors!” So be sure to get an inspection from the owner of the company because he has a vested interest in insuring your total satisfaction!

 
I take pride in my business, from the initial phone call, during the inspection, report quality review and control, and post inspection communication with you, your agent and attorney. And the service does not end there. Contact me anytime after your inspection, a year, two years, three or five years. You are my client for Life.
Owner operated vs a Multi-Inspector Firm?

When dealing with an inspection company, the reputations of both the company and the inspector who is assigned to your home are important. Larger companies with multiple inspectors can be inconsistent, inexperienced and unreliable.  This fact has been reported to me by real estate agents and clients over the years. In addition, larger companies typically pay salary and bonus commissions, which can affect your inspection.  How?  Lets say the inspector has a busy day with 3 inspections.  He's under the gun, so to speak, to complete the first and second inspection, and move on to the last one.  Do you really want a "rushed" inspector who will leave out details and possibly miss a major defect?  Choosing a multi-inspecion firm is like playing the lottery or bingo. You need luck on your side. Don’t leave Chance on your side. Patience is a virtue, and time is a luxury which is what you will receive when you hire Peter Bennett as your inspector

 
2.  Education, Training, Experience & Certifications: 
 
I am a graduate of Colgate University.  Prior to pursuing my home inspection career, my diverse background includes, outdoor advertising, driving instructor, professional canine obience trainer. This benefits you as my communcation skills are well-rounded.  In addition, being a contractor is very different from being a professional licensed home inspector. For example, home inspectors are responsible for evaluating all of the systems and components of the home, per the State of New Jersey standards -- not just one aspect like the brick or the framing. To be able to provide a competent evaluation of all of these elements takes experience, formal education and training.  Is your inspector an attendee of one of the top home inspection schools, or did he complete a correspondence course, or have his brother in law show him how to inspect?
 
My qualifications and Value Added Benefit
 
I have a background in residential home and commercial construction from previous trades and professions. Since the year 2000, I have personally inspected thousands of properties, their components, features and systems in accordance with State of New Jersey rules and regulations, ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors, and INACHI (International Association of Certified Home Inspectors) standards. During my apprenticeship, I was trained by a veteran professional inspector with almost 40 years of experience. Imagine investing a summer, 6 days a week, three inspections/day and gaining valuable information, insight and experience with all of the major elements (structural, mechanical), features and components by a home inspection guru! That’s value for you when hire me!  In addition, I am a graduate of an approved State of New Jersey Home Inspection Program, Middlesex County Vocational School, which is a 300 hour course taught by veteran (10-15 years or more) inspectors, and engineers. In fact, most of the home inspectors today do not have this qualification.   
 
3. The Inspection Report-What are you really getting for Your Money?
The top home inspectors in today’s real estate business don’t produce handwritten or checklist style reports because they do not really benefit you.  The report should be "A How to" of your home, not a tally of items that are "satisfactory, "good", "poor".  The report should not contain repair costs or action plans for repairs.  Professional home inspectors inspect -- they don’t repair! An inspector who hints towards or makes repairs violates the State of New Jersey rules/regulations, and should always be avoided due to the conflict of interest inherent in that situation.
 
4. A professional inspector will provide a comprehensive report to you with the “Information” YOU need to make an informed decision about the subject property in a Clear, Concise, Professional Educational Manner, with Diagrams, Illustrations and annotated Photographs. Technology has evolved where you should demand to receive a full-color report. The document should provide “Executive Summary Overview Report” with specific categories like "Significant Repairs/Condition/Evaluation, Areas of Health, Safety and Environmental Concerns, Upgrades and Repairs." Ask for a sample of an inspection report so you’ll know what you can expect for your time and money. After all, you are the client!

5.  How Long Has The Inspection Company Been In Business?

I have been professionally inspecting homes since 2000.  Is the inspection company locally owned and operated or are they some far away “faceless corporation” where no one is monitoring and evaluating the quality of their work? If you are dealing with a multi-inspector firm, how long has the inspection company been in business? Does the inspection company have dedicated employees serving as customer service representatives to schedule appointments and provide any needed follow up assistance or do you have to call “1-800-good-luck” to talk to a real person? Call your inspector and see if he's in the middle of an inspection.  If so, it's a big mistake as he's distracted and could make a mistake.  Don't take that chance. I don't answer the phone during an inspection, but will return your call as soon as possible.


6.  Ask To See What Other Home Buyers Have Said About The Inspector: 
Quality Professional Home Inspectors ask their client’s to complete comment cards upon completion of the inspection. Professional Inspectors want to know what they are doing right, as well as what might need improvement. If the inspector can’t or won’t provide client referrals, it's time to find another one.
 
7. Required Tool List: As far as I know, no other contractor is required to carry them.
The State of New Jersey has a required list of tools that home inspectors must have.  Yet, many so called home inspectors bring nothing more to the inspection than a flashlight.
13:40-15.17 Mandatory tools and equipment
(a) All home inspectors and associate home inspectors shall, during the performance of a home inspection, be equipped with the following minimum tools and equipment:
1. A ladder, minimum 11 feet in length;
2. A flashlight, or another equivalent light source, with a minimum 15,000 candlepower illumination;
3. A flame inspection mirror;
4. An electrical outlet tester with Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) test ability;
5. Tools necessary to remove common fasteners on covers or panels which are required to be removed pursuant to this subchapter.
6. A measuring tape;
7. A probe;
8. Thermometers for testing air conditioning;
9. Binoculars with a magnification between 8X42 and 10X50;
10. A moisture meter;
11. Gas and Combustible gas leak detection equipment
12. A voltage detector.
Today’s home inspector though, should be taking advantage of some of the newer technologies being introduced, and fully utilizing the best testing equipment available. This equipment is delicate and can be very expensive, but in order to stay on "the cutting edge" and provide the best service possible, it is a necessary investment. Proper equipment should range from the more sophisticated testing devices (electrical circuit analyzers, electronic carbon monoxide & fuel gas analyzers, digital moisture meters, digital cameras to document findings, etc.), all the way down to the more mundane but necessary equipment, such as ladders, flashlights, levels, etc.
REQUEST A LIST OF TOOLS FROM YOUR HOME INSPECTOR!

8.  Ask the Person Who Referred You How they Discovered Their Home Inspector:

The best referral is from someone you personally know and trust who was satisfied with the inspector's overall performance (professional conduct and ethics, on-site and post inspection communication of report issues, report quality). Conducting 300-400 inspections each year requires extensive referrals, in fact, I have been referred and preferred by real estate agents, attorneys, past clients, builders, architects, mortgage companies!

Although many real-estate professionals refer quality home inspectors, there is a possible conflict of interest with this type of referral, which can be unethical. The State of New Jersey, ASHI and INACHI have strict ethical protocols, which help regulate and guide the industry. I abide by the ethics guidelines and I appreciate all who refer me.  But remember, you are my client, and I have no other allegiance. Many top real estate agents, attorneys, mortgage representatives, and construction companies have referred me to their family members, co-worker, and friends, which illustrates their trust in me!
 
Thank you for taking time to read Eight Reasons to Choose Peter W. Bennett.
Schedule Your Inspection Online or Call 732-758-9887