Look at sample reports. They all provide them. Look at their background. If they weren't active in at least one of the building trades for a long time, how did they become knowledgeable about all phases of home building?

Look at how long they take to inspect the house. We have employed two home inspectors and been the "inspected" as sellers by another. Of the three, only one was any good, in my opinion. He performed the after construction inspection on our new house. He was an electrician by trade and a builder by occupation prior to turning to home inspections. His inspection took a full six hours on site. In contrast, the other two took three hours or less.

Expect to pay more for an inspector that actually takes enough time to do the job right.

You can also contact your local building officials for suggestions etc. They cannot/should not recommend a certain person, but they might be able to tell you if they have had complaints. In Los Angeles County, they do occupancy inspections, not sure of the fees. One thing to watch for when you are buying is to make sure all the permits required are obtained and they have been passed/approved. You also can talk to them about contractors etc. Lots of good information if you have a good building dept. This from a retired LA county inspector.
M.

First and foremost, find out if your state licenses the profession, and if so, use only a home inspector who is licensed and therefore operating legally in your state.

Then, ask friends, family co-workers, etc for references.

Second, make certain he carries errors and omissions insurance that is currently in effect. Not all licensing regulations require this, so don't assume. Don't confuse General Liability insurance with E&O...as E&O is the one that provides you with recourse if he should miss something.

Third, before calling, familiarize yourself with your states regulations to find out what is and is not covered in a home inspection. Things such as termite inspection, radon testing, mold/pest/environmental hazard inspection is not part of a home inspection in accordance with nationally accepted standards. Therefore, anyone offering such should be able to document their training and experience in such practices. Make certain that you get a pre-inspection agreement to review BEFORE the day of inspection...and read it thoroughly before signing.

Review a sample report. Reject the check list guys...as those reports are the least detailed and most not worth the paper they are written upon. Also disregard the boiler plate guys, who give you a huge report, most of which is general info about houses in general.

Best bet is to hire soemone who provides a detailed narrative report about the specific house, inclusive of digital photos.

A thorough inspection of an average sized home in average condition should take a minimum of 2 and half hours. Add size, age, poor condition, and it should take a good deal longer.

Last but not least...do not hire by price..as you will get...or not get what you pay for; a house is one of the biggest financial investments that most people make...skimping on the inspection is penny wise and pound foolish.

Best wishes.

Thanks you all! I found a very competent inspector and was pretty satisifed.