Choosing a Michigan Home Inspector

By Ian Dolby, Certified Master Inspector and owner of Smart Choice Inspection Company

Quick Answer

Choosing a Michigan home inspector requires homework because Michigan does not currently license home inspectors. Look at qualifications, depth and frequency of experience, full-time practice, methods, scope, reporting, communication, service breadth, client reviews, and professional reputation as a whole.

Michigan Does Not License Home Inspectors

Michigan has no state home-inspector license that tells a buyer an inspector met a specific state standard for education, examination, experience, or continuing education. This does not mean Michigan lacks excellent inspectors. It means the consumer must look deeper.

Start With Qualifications But Do Not Stop There

Ask about professional organizations, certifications, Standards of Practice, and continuing education. These establish a foundation. They do not show how thoroughly the person inspects a particular house, communicates, recognizes patterns, or distinguishes significant conditions from maintenance.

Experience Means More Than Years

Years show duration. Depth, frequency, and quality show what an inspector has done with that time. A good inspector develops pattern recognition from many construction ages, systems, defects, repairs, and remodeling conditions. Experience should improve judgment and perspective, not merely lengthen a biography.

Full Time or Part Time

Full-time work does not automatically make someone better, and part-time work does not automatically make someone poor. Frequency still matters because continual exposure creates more opportunities to recognize patterns and unusual conditions.

Inspect the Scope and the Report

Ask what is included, whether the inspector goes beyond minimum Standards of Practice when conditions warrant, and what additional services are available. Review a sample report for clarity, useful photographs, and separation of significant conditions from ordinary maintenance. Page count alone is not a quality measure.

Communication Matters

Ask whether clients can attend, when the report is delivered, how significant findings are explained, and whether questions are welcomed afterward. A technically accurate report the client cannot understand is not doing its full job.

Realtor Recommendations

An agent’s recommendation may be based on valuable firsthand experience. Some agents provide several names; some brokerage marketing programs may involve paid arrangements. Do not automatically accept or reject a recommendation. Ask why the inspector is being recommended, then perform your own evaluation. The recommendation can come from someone else. The choice belongs to the buyer.

Client Reviews

Reviews show what happened when people actually hired the inspector. Look beyond stars to volume, recency, and recurring descriptions of thoroughness, communication, professionalism, responsiveness, and useful explanations. Hundreds of experiences can reveal patterns that a selected testimonial cannot.

Price Availability and Services

A lower price is not automatically worse and a higher price is not automatically better. Availability matters, but it should not become the only qualification. A very short inspection period can change “Which inspector do I want?” into “Which inspector can get here?” Research early and see the inspection-timing resource for the full service-coordination discussion.

Questions Worth Asking

• What professional qualifications do you hold?
• Is home inspection your full-time profession, and how frequently do you inspect?
• What Standards of Practice do you follow?
• What is included, and what additional services are available?
• Can I see a sample report?
• When will I receive the report?
• Can I attend, and how are significant findings communicated?
• What do previous clients consistently say?

Choose the Whole Inspector

Do not hire a credential, a number of years, a star rating, a Realtor recommendation, a low price, or a polished website in isolation. Choose an inspector you trust to help you understand the house.

About Ian Dolby

Ian Dolby is the owner of Smart Choice Inspection Company, a Certified Master Inspector, and an Indiana licensed home inspector, License #02200088. He serves residential clients throughout Southwest Michigan and Northwestern Indiana. Learn more about Ian Dolby and his professional background.

Schedule a Home Inspection

To learn more about Smart Choice Inspection Company or schedule a residential home inspection, visit the residential inspection service page or call or text 269-800-0111.