As the buyer, you want someone who will be thorough and tough, not someone who is willing to overlook small problems. A reliable personal recommendation is the best way to find a home inspector.

Be careful about asking your real estate agent for a referral. Your agent is almost surely anxious that your deal go through and therefore may recommend an inspector who is not overly persnickety. Make sure your real estate agent knows that you want an inspector who is especially thorough.

You can also get local referrals and valuable information about home inspections from the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) at http://www.ashi.com. Inspectors who are members of ASHI must pass technical exams and meet specific standards of practice. As a condition of membership, they are not permitted to accept contracting work.

Before finally deciding whom to hire, get several references and check the status of each individual's license and any outstanding complaints with state licensing agencies. Also check with your state consumer protection agency.