I ask my clients to join me, yes but hold the questions. I joined ASHI in '92 due to their tough Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics, 3 hour technical membership exam (same as now required by many states for licensing), 20 hours per year of continuing education (I typically acquire 40 to 50 hours a year) and having to do 250 inspections to be a full, Certified member. Many other organizations don't require all this, only that your dues check clear ... I belonged to some of them, too. Yes - technical skills, personal ethics and communications skills are critical. I love it when clients call me 5 or more years later to look at the next home they are buying or pass me on to friends. Trust is critical. MisterPerfect

I agree with the "biggest purchase, and read every word"...good advice. But follow the inspector around? Really? Do you like to be followed around at work? I left mine alone. When he was done inspection, he welcomed me and showed me everything I was worried about. Left without one single question. I would rather let them focus and work on my "biggest purchase". I have an inspector friend who says he does not belong to any association anymore. He didn't approve of being tied to every relationship the assoc made...good or bad. Also said the only thing keeping him from being ASHI certified again is a check for $300 dollars, as he already has over a thousand inspections under his belt. Is that true? If so, why ASHI over others or independents? After all, isn't about the individual inspector's skills and not his memberships?

Good job, ABC! As a licensed Illinois home inspector (3600 inspections under my belt and helped train 900+ others) I hired a local ASHI Certified home inspector when we bought a home in AZ 10 years ago. Always, always hire an objective, independent third party to look at every part of the building. Check references, follow the inspector around, ask questions, read every word of the report! This is your biggest purchase, folks! MisterPerfect

Most so called home inspectors could not find their a ss with both hands.

Your professional home inspector should also carry liability insurance which covers him for "errors and omissions", and be willing to give you proof of coverage. Ask for that before you fork over your money!

Sounds like at least one of those inspectors were pretty good. Telling people who may not be familiar with house components not to get a home inspection is not good advice in my opinion. Not a good one out there? Why all the negativity?

I have yet to find one that isn't a full scam. I've done my work prior to calling them in, when they are done, not once did they find anything I hadn't found and documented, and every single time, I have found at least one serious issue they haven't. Don't waste your money - there isn't a good one out there.

Home inspector what a scam job that is , got your 4-500 bye. And worse you have little to 0 recourse when a problem is found that they missed . Where is Mike Holmes when you need him .

Its imperative to get a reliable home inspector, this poor homeowner got sucker punched. What kind home inspector association is this that didnt have the reserves to give this man for all the damages he was stuck with because of an ignorant fool of an inspector? But, the blame may not be all his, the selling realtor usually recommends the ones they use all the time, what happened here? Doesnt this homeoner have recourse with the realtor? What kind of a lawsuit was won, if he didnt get nearly enough to cover all his repairs to date, if they are not yet completed?