Over the years, I've developed a list of tools that every home inspector should have in their toolbox. It's very important to have the right tools - they are necessary to do a thorough inspection. But please be careful, just as in any profession..or really sport, you can overspend on any item. When you are first starting your career in Home Inspection, you shouldn't have to overspend and buy the best of the best equipment. As your company grows, then you can look to upgrade. For now, just get the basics.
The list of tools I compiled below will get you by and allow you to do your job. When first starting out, you can get by only spending $500 for basic equipment.
However, you’ll likely want to invest in some more specialized tools as you become more successful and grow your contacts, you can expect to spend around $1,000+ on equipment. If you aren’t sure what you need, get the basic essentials to start out, and then buy more equipment as you need it.
Flashlights (Amazon Link) $15.99. You will need this when inspecting dark areas of a home. A lot of times, the attic lights do not work so you must not chance it. Believe it or not, sometimes a home will not even have power. I've had that embarrassing experience before. Also, don't forget to also have backup batteries. You cell phone light can also serve as a second backup. But don't waste your battery life on the light, you will need your cell phone to document pictures.
Camera. I recommend just using your cell phone to take pictures. This prevents you from spending more money. Just be sure to carry an extra charger in your vehicle at all times. Always make sure your cell phone is FULLY charged before you arrive to do your inspection.
Tool Holder(Amazon Link) $20.99
Dust Mask(Amazon Link) $16.48
Measuring devices (Amazon Link) $39.98
Penetration Probe (Amazon Link) $14.99. A probe helps you check the temperature inside the home’s HVAC system, allowing you to better determine its condition.
Pocket knife (Amazon Link) $10.49.
Multi-purpose screwdrivers (Amazon Link) $14.97
Water Pressure Gauges(Amazon Link) $23.40
Telescoping Mirror(Amazon Link) $12.99. Sometimes, you’ll need to get a better view of a tight space that you can’t easily access.
Level (Amazon Link) $12
Water Level (Amazon Link) $45.95. I always pass on this valuable advice to my students to ALWAYS use this tool. My mentor told me long ago, "You WILL use a water level on each corner of the foundation". There's no other way to determine it's existing condition (and protect yourself from liability). Once again, you aren't making and determination about the foundation, just describing what you see and it's implications. Does a structural engineer need further inspection?
Gas Leak Testers: (Amazon Link) $28.99. The gases typically tested for are natural gas and propane.Gas leak testers are used wherever there is a gas line – to test for leaks near combustion appliances like furnaces, water heaters, gas ranges, ovens, gas fireplaces, and other such devices. Gas leaks can be dangerous and elusive, so proper recognition and detection of a leak is a key element of any home inspection.
CO (Carbon Monoxide) Detectors: (Amazon Link) $101.01. These handheld devices are used to ensure that there are no harmful levels of carbon monoxide in a home, which may otherwise be overlooked because carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless.
Outlet Testers: (Amazon Link) $11.40. These are small devices which are plugged directly into power outlets to check their functionality – and verify that proper voltage and power is flowing through the outlet.
Non-Contact Voltage Testers: (Amazon Link) $101. These devices are used to test wires, cables and other electrical equipment to check if the wire is “live” and has electricity flowing through it.
Moisture Meters: (Amazon Link) $31.92. Moisture meters are used to detect things like leaks in the roof, plumbing systems, moisture in the walls, potential mold growth, and more. Moisture meters use a special electrical system, which can detect changes in resistance and electromagnetic signals, to determine if there is moisture present in a wall or another area.
Telescopic Ladder: (Amazon Link) $149.98. Ladders are needed to access the roof, attic spaces, and high ceilings. I recommend using a compact ladders, such as the telescoping ladder. These are the best ladders to use because they are collapsible, lightweight ladders that can be extended to multiple heights.
Thermometers and IR Cameras: (Amazon Link)$349.99. Inspectors may use a variety of different types of thermometers for a variety of tasks. Infrared thermometers are useful to measure the temperature at HVAC systems. Digital readout thermometers or simple probe thermometers are useful to measure both domestic hot water temperature and air conditioner temperature drops.
