Q. How do I find a good home inspector?

A. If you look in your telephone book, you’ll find dozens of people calling themselves “professional house inspectors”. Some of them aren’t.

Some of the most qualified home inspectors are members of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), a nationwide, nonprofit professional trade association founded in 1976. ASHI admits as members only those home inspectors who have performed at least 750 home inspections according to the ASHI Standards of Practice, or 250 inspections in addition to other licenses and experiences.

Applicants must also pass a written exam, receive, approval on at least three sample inspection reports, and perform a satisfactory home inspection before a peer review committee.

Sept. 1, 2005.