Should a home buyer hire a home inspector?
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Yes. Purchasing a home is the single largest investment many people make in their lives – as well as the most naïve. Lacking construction knowledge, they associate quality construction with superficial features like crown molding, hardwood floors, granite countertops, etc. The reality is these features are only aesthetic. The true quality of a home is reflected by what lies beneath these amenities. What is important is the structural, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, HVAC and other components. This is why hiring a Licensed Professional Home Inspector is important. A licensed and objective home inspection report gives the home buyer an unbiased assessment of the actual condition of the property on the day the inspection is made. Home inspectors come from much different design and construction-related backgrounds such as architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, HVAC and other related backgrounds, but all are required by the Arkansas Home Inspection Board to complete an 80-hour classroom training class for home inspectors approved by the Arkansas Department of Education, pass the National Home Inspector Exam and the Arkansas Home Inspection Ethics Exam to become licensed as a Professional Home Inspector. As a result, each home inspector will have specific areas where they possess special expertise.
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As a Civil Engineer, my particular areas of expertise are in the foundation, structural, and plumbing components of the structure. Typically, the fee for a comprehensive home inspection is less than 0.1% of the cost of purchasing a home. I invite and encourage all my clients to accompany me on my home inspections so they can ask questions and any findings can be explained firsthand during the inspection. I always advocate for a client to be informed and prepared.
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But what if I’m buying a brand new home?
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Yes, a home inspection is one of the most important factors of a home purchase. Even though a home is brand-new, that does not necessarily mean it is flawless. The very best home builders can sometimes overlook some details in completing a new home project. A home inspector can help the client to identify these details, so they can be corrected before the purchase process is completed. On the other hand, some homebuilders who primarily deal in constructing “spec” homes may intentionally try to cut corners that might compromise the quality of the home to increase their profit on the new home being purchased. A home inspector can help the client to identify these defects.

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Is a pre-sale home inspection important for a seller?
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It is very important. A pre-sale inspection can reveal to the seller conditions they can correct before listing the property, enhancing its value and appeal to a buyer and to expedite the sale. It can also reveal conditions that require attention but might be better left for the buyer to decide how they want to make the correction. In this case, the seller can anticipate providing an allowance to a buyer. Finally, there may be some conditions the seller simply wants to sell “as is”.
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I’m buying a condo or townhouse. Should I hire a home inspector?
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Yes. A condominium is a special type of home where the owner owns the airspace (interior) of the unit, but the building and grounds that make up the condominium development are owned by the condominium owners’ association. A professional home inspector can help the client identify what he is responsible for and what features are the responsibility of the condominium owners’ association.
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In summary,
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A Professional Home Inspector should never be viewed by a realtor, buyer, or seller as a “deal buster”. His responsibility is to simply apprise his client of the condition of the home or commercial building they are buying or selling on the day the inspection is made in accordance with the American Society of Home Inspectors Standard of Practice for Home Inspections and the Code of Ethics for the home inspection profession.

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Education:
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Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (Structural Design and Analysis) – University of Missouri – Rolla
Master of Science in Civil Engineering (Sanitary / Public Works Mgt.) – University of Missouri – Rolla
The University of Missouri – Rolla was re-named the Missouri University of Science and Technology in 2008.
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ABC Home Inspection Institute
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Arkansas Real Estate School
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Professional Licensure:
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Arkansas Professional Engineer #4540
Arkansas Home Inspector #1959
FAA UAS Remote Pilot #4135798
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Professional Memberships:
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American Society of Civil Engineers
Association of Conservation Engineers – Past President
American Society of Home Inspectors – Associate Member