• Licensing and affiliations:
• Many states require Home Inspectors to obtain a License to do business as a Home Inspector. (Ask for their License number, if they are not licensed then report them to the authorities.
• Ask about affiliation with a local or national organization. (While not always required, membership and participation in an affiliate organization can add to their training, experience, and higher standards they need to maintain.  Affiliations can also be held accountable for their members)
• Affiliations such as InterNACHI, ASHI, etc. can be contacted for more information about Home Inspections and Inspectors. (I will leave the decision, as to which affiliation is the best, to your research and opinions).
  
• What Ancillary Inspections services do they perform?
• It can be a way to save money to bundle the home inspection with Ancillary Inspections.
• How many different inspectors will it take to complete all of the necessary inspections?
• Do you want a Home Inspector or a Specialist do the Ancillary Inspections?  (IE: Is a Home Inspector or a pest control company better qualified to do a termite inspection? Etc.)
  
• Experience:
• How long has the Inspector been inspecting homes?
• What experience does the Inspector have other than Inspections?
• What does their experience have to do with their ability to meet your expectations?
• Take into account each factor carefully.  There are Home Inspectors that have no experience in the construction of a home, but have been in business inspecting homes for a long time.  There are new inspectors that have a strong background in construction.  Which is better?  That is for you to decide.  Do you want a retired fireman that passed a test that licensed them to inspect homes 10 years ago, or do you want a current or retired contractor that recently changed professions?  There are good and not so good inspectors that fall into both categories.
• Referrals:
• A referral can give you more information about each inspector.
• Referral from Real estate agent:  Real estate agents work with inspectors on a regular basis, the know the pros and cons of many different inspectors. 
  
• NOTE: In many states, Real Estate agents can NOT receive commissions, kick backs, or any incentives from any Home Inspector they recommend.  To do so would violate state laws and both the Realtor and the Home Inspector can lose their License!!!
• Referral from Friends and Family: 
  
• Talk to people you know and trust, get their recommendations.
• What about Online Referral services like Home Advisor, Angie's List, etc? 
  
• NOTE: Most of the Online Referral services are free to the consumer, but charge the business to be included in their system.  Many of them allow some companies to pay extra for a better spot on their listing and more leads being sent to them, which can add costs to what the inspector charges.
  
• Don't trust reviews and referrals on websites and other online sources. Always verify through a trusted source.
  

• Price:     See: (How Much Will a Home Inspection Cost)

• Different Home Inspectors charge different prices. 
  

• Compare services and experience

• Cheaper is rarely better

• The most expensive is not always the best

• Ask about available discounts (IE: Military discount, First Time Home Buyer discount, Bundled ancillary services discount, etc.)

• The Inspection Report  (The type of report should fit your needs. Are you familiar with home construction and just want the highlights or are you not familiar with anything in a house and would like every explained in "Plain English"?)
• Do you want a simple checklist report?
• Do you want a large detailed 100 page report with lots of photos and as many details about the home as possible?
• Do you want a concise report that is only a few pages long with few photos and bullet point information?
• Personal Preference:
• When it is all said and done, the number one factor should be how comfortable you feel with the inspector you choose.
• Call a few different Home Inspectors and Ask Questions
• Listen
  
• Ask More Questions
• Listen
  
• Ask More Questions
• Listen
  
• The Home Inspector your choose will be your point of contact with any questions you will have, make sure you are comfortable with being able to ask them questions and that they are able to answer your questions the way that suits you the best.

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What is a Home Inspection?

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