Do I need an Engineer or a Home Inspector?
Chances are you do need a home inspector. When you hire a home inspector, you are hiring an experienced professional who has training and experience in the building industry. It is the job of the home inspector to not only evaluate the condition of the structures major systems and structural integrity but also to evaluate how these systems are working together and identify areas that need to be monitored, repaired or replaced.
Your home inspector gives you the “Big Picture” analysis of the house you are considering purchasing. If the home inspector identifies the need for a costly, detailed analysis of any of the specific systems or structures, the inspector will recommend the appropriate professional, which may be an experienced engineer or a foundation expert with expertise analyzing that particular system or structure. The need for this kind of expensive, detailed analysis is rare.
Hiring a Professional Engineer on your own could be a disappointing experience. The term Professional Engineer does not mean that the individual has training or experience conducting home inspections. Hiring a Professional Engineer will undoubtedly cost more but it may not give you the results you desire.