If you have friends who have bought or sold a home recently, ask them if their inspector did a good job,
 and whether they'd hire that person again.

Ask your real estate agent

Only if they are Buyer agents can they refer you to a home inspector or a inspection company.
Beware of listing agents that may steer you to their inspector, this is illegal.

Ask how long your home inspector has been in business

Check for professional memberships, licenses, and ongoing training.

Credentialing varies from state to state, so ask about experience, continuing education,
and whether your inspector has membership in the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors,
the American Society of Home Inspectors, or the National Association of Home Inspectors.

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Review the written disclaimers that the home inspector will be using in his report as well as
the proposed scope of the inspection. Make certain all areas that are important to you
(crawl spaces? the roof? drainage?) will be covered.