The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) is a widely recognized national association which requires home inspectors to pass written exams, submit inspection reports for review and participate in continuing education.

Determine if the inspector you are considering is a member of ASHI.

If they are a member of another association, check the requirements of that association.

Inquire how long the inspector has been performing inspections and what other credentials they hold.

A professional home inspector should carry Errors and Omissions Insurance (E&O). Many home inspectors also carry a General Liability policy.

Determine what type of report the inspector will be giving the client and how that report will be delivered. Reports vary from hand written, carbon copy reports to computer generated reports.

Some reports will include digital photographs and some will not.

Some reports are easier to follow and provide more detailed explanations than others.

Some inspectors deliver reports at the end of an inspection, some inspectors send reports later the same day and still others don’t send reports out until a day or two after the inspection. Some reports will be hand delivered, some are delivered via e-mail and some inspectors provide their clients with a web address where the report can be downloaded.

Consider asking for a sample report to review before making a decision. A copy of one of our reports can be found on this website.

An inspector should be happy to provide a potential client with a list of previous clients. This will provide you with an opportunity to find out about other purchasers’ experiences.

Price should not be the main factor in your decision.

Top-notch inspectors must invest a lot of money in training, continuing education, insurance and technology. As with most things in life, you get what you pay for.

This is a big investment, don’t sacrifice quality to save a few extra dollars.