How Much Should Your Home Inspection Cost?: An Interview with Arie Neumann from A to Z Home Inspections

Tell us a little bit about your company and the services you offer.

A to Z Home Inspections is located in Plainview, NY. It is the main division of Zodok Residential Management, LLC. We provide one-stop residential home inspections for both home buyers and sellers as well. We inspect homes in all parts of New York State with a focus on Long Island, NY.

The total service includes the on-site inspection and full written report. Home buyers get a detailed sense of the condition of the home before buying the property. Sellers can get a snap-shot of their current home condition, and can make necessary repairs, if needed, prior to listing.

We have great business relationships with real estate agents and real estate attorneys, helping their clients get a quickly booked and efficient home inspection. Much of our business comes from very satisfied real estate agents and agencies.

We also specialize in first-time home buyers as we take pride in having them follow along for the inspection, we answer their questions on the spot, and show them the various systems and how to maintain their new home. We believe that the purchase process becomes much easier, and the buyer much more comfortable when they see and understand the details of their purchase.

The relationships we build with our clients are the most important part of our business. Our success is greatly attributed to client referrals.

Is there something important that most people don't know about the cost of a home inspection that they should know?

The inspection fee is very low (about 1/10 of 1%) in comparison to the price of the home and more importantly, so well worth it in light of the potential cost of repairing/replacing defects found during the inspection. A typical inspection takes about 2.5 hours at the inspection site and several hours to complete the report which includes full details and pictures.

How do you calculate what the charge for a home inspection should be?

In my experience most homes (new, old, small or large) take about the same time. For that reason I have one price for all homes and a lower price for condos, apartments and other smaller structures.

What are some of the things that account for higher or lower home inspection prices from other companies in the Long Island area?

A to Z Home Inspections, NY is very competitively priced for the Long Island area and much lower than some of the larger companies in the area. The company was created in such a way that we can keep our overhead much lower than other organizations and pass the savings to our clients. We periodically offer specials and referral discounts.

After people receive a price or a quote, what questions should they ask the home inspector to help make their decision about who to hire?

People should ask about experience, details of the inspection process and have a brief discussion with the inspector to make sure they are comfortable with him.

What advice do you have for a prospective homeowner who needs an inspection but doesn't really care who does it as long as the price is decent?

The cost of the inspection is so relatively low, the exact price will not mean much in the long run or even in the short run. First and foremost, the buyer needs a quality inspection of the home he is looking to buy. This is typically the largest investment they will make. Trying to save a few dollars on the inspection price but not thinking about the incredible value of a quality inspection is foolish.

What's the best way for people to contact you and your company?

We are located in Plainview, NY and can be reached directly by phone at 516-300-9448 or thru our web site: www.ArieNeumannHomeInspections.com .