How to Choose a Home Inspector: 10 Things Every Homebuyer Should Check Before Hiring Anyone
- jharrisinspections
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Buying a home is one of the largest financial decisions most people will ever make.
Yet surprisingly, many buyers spend more time researching where to eat dinner than they do researching the person they're trusting to inspect a home worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
One of the most common questions we see on local Facebook pages is:
"Who's the best home inspector?"
Within minutes, dozens of recommendations begin pouring in.
While those recommendations can be a helpful starting point, they should never be your only source of information.
The truth is, a recommendation from a friend, neighbor, or Facebook group doesn't tell you everything you need to know about the person you're hiring.
When choosing a home inspector, you're selecting someone whose knowledge, judgment, professionalism, and integrity will help guide one of the biggest financial decisions of your life.
Before making that decision, here are ten things every buyer should check.
1. Verify They're Properly Licensed
In Mississippi, home inspectors must be licensed through the Mississippi Home Inspection Division.
Never assume someone is licensed simply because they advertise home inspections or were recommended online.
Take a few moments to verify their license status yourself.
A licensed inspector has met Mississippi's education, examination, insurance, and continuing education requirements.
2. Check for Disciplinary Actions
This is one of the most overlooked steps when hiring a home inspector.
Before making your decision, search for any disciplinary actions involving the inspector through the Mississippi Home Inspection Division.
Mississippi Home Inspection Division Disciplinary Actions
If your transaction also involves questions about a licensed real estate professional, the Mississippi Real Estate Commission maintains a public disciplinary database as well.
Mississippi Real Estate Commission Disciplinary Actions
Public disciplinary records exist to help consumers make informed decisions.
They're worth checking.
3. Don't Just Look at Google Ratings. Read the Reviews.
A five-star rating is great.
But the written reviews tell the real story.
Look for comments about:
• Thoroughness
• Professionalism
• Communication
• Attention to detail
• Report quality
• Willingness to answer questions
• Follow-up after the inspection
These details reveal much more than a simple star rating.
4. A Recommendation Is More Than a Name
One of the strongest endorsements a home inspector can receive isn't another inspection.
It's when a past client or Realtor recommends them to a friend, family member, or client, knowing their own reputation is attached to that recommendation.
Think about it.
When a Realtor refers a home inspector, they're placing their credibility on the line.
When a past client recommends an inspector to someone they care about, they're doing the same.
Those recommendations aren't given lightly.
They're earned through professionalism, communication, integrity, and consistently doing the right thing.
That's why referrals, online reviews, and long-term relationships matter so much.
They represent trust that has been built one inspection at a time.
5. Read the Negative Reviews
Every established business eventually receives criticism.
That's not necessarily a red flag.
What matters is how they respond.
Ask yourself:
• Did they remain professional?
• Did they acknowledge the customer's concerns?
• Did they attempt to resolve the issue?
• Did they communicate respectfully?
Or did they become defensive, argumentative, or dismissive?
The way a company responds to criticism often tells you far more about its values than dozens of five-star reviews.
6. Look at How Recent the Reviews Are
Twenty glowing reviews from five years ago don't necessarily reflect how a company operates today.
Look for a steady stream of recent reviews over the last six to twelve months.
Consistency builds confidence.
7. Ask to See a Sample Inspection Report
Not all inspection reports are created equal.
A quality report should be:
• Easy to understand
• Well organized
• Filled with clear photographs
• Thorough without being overwhelming
• Helpful for both buyers and their Realtor
Remember...
The inspection lasts a few hours.
The report lasts for years.
8. Ask What Services They Actually Offer
Every inspection company is different.
Depending on the property, you may benefit from additional services including:
🏠 Buyer Home Inspections
🏡 Seller Home Inspections
🏢 Condo Inspections
🏬 Commercial Property Inspections
🏗️ New Home Warranty Inspections
🏊 Pool & Spa Inspections
🌬️ Air Quality & Mold Testing
🐜 Wood Destroying Organism Inspections or referrals
🚁 Drone Roof Evaluations
Knowing what's available before scheduling can save both time and money.
9. Character Matters Just as Much as Credentials
Education matters.
Experience matters.
But character is what ultimately earns trust.
A home inspector is invited into one of the largest investments you'll ever make.
That responsibility demands honesty, professionalism, integrity, and the courage to deliver difficult news when necessary.
That's why we encourage buyers to look beyond marketing and ask a few important questions.
Has the inspector ever been disciplined by their licensing authority?
Not every disciplinary action carries the same weight, and consumers should never jump to conclusions without understanding the circumstances. However, disciplinary records exist for a reason, to provide transparency and help consumers make informed decisions.
It's worth asking what happened, how it was resolved, and whether there's a pattern.
How do they respond when someone leaves a negative review?
Every established business receives criticism.
Character is often revealed by how someone responds to it.
Do they acknowledge concerns?
Do they communicate respectfully?
Do they accept responsibility when appropriate?
Or do they attack the customer, become defensive, or shift blame?
The way a business handles criticism often reveals more about its values than a hundred glowing reviews.
Technical knowledge can be learned.
Experience comes with time.
Character is demonstrated every day through integrity, accountability, professionalism, humility, and how someone treats people when things don't go according to plan.
Choose an inspector whose reputation is built not only on finding defects, but on earning trust.
Because at the end of the day, you're not simply hiring someone to inspect a house.
You're hiring someone whose judgment, ethics, and professionalism you'll rely on to help protect one of the biggest investments you'll ever make.
10. Beware of "Fast and Cheap"
Everyone likes saving money.
But choosing the least expensive inspector may become the most expensive decision you make.
Likewise, if someone promises to inspect three or four homes every day while delivering lightning-fast reports, ask yourself one question:
How much time are they actually spending evaluating each property?
A thorough inspection takes time.
Every home deserves careful attention, detailed documentation, photographs, and thoughtful explanations.
Buying a home is too important to rush.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a home inspector shouldn't come down to whichever name appears most often in a Facebook comment thread.
Take a few extra minutes.
Verify their license.
Review their disciplinary history.
Read their Google reviews, including the negative ones.
Look at how recent those reviews are.
Ask to see a sample report.
Evaluate the services they offer.
Most importantly, pay attention to their professionalism, integrity, and character.
The highest compliment a home inspector can receive isn't another inspection. It's when a client or Realtor confidently recommends them, knowing their own reputation is attached to that recommendation.
That kind of trust isn't built overnight.
It's earned, one inspection, one relationship, and one family at a time.
Because a home inspection is one of the smallest investments you'll make during the home-buying process, but it can have one of the biggest impacts on your financial future.
Whether you choose Harris Home Inspections or another qualified professional, we encourage you to do your homework before making that decision.
A great home inspector won't tell you what you want to hear.
They'll tell you what you need to know.
About Harris Home Inspections
At Harris Home Inspections, we believe every client deserves honest answers, thorough inspections, and the confidence to make informed decisions.
Our responsibility isn't to help a transaction close.
Our responsibility is to help you understand exactly what you're buying.
🏡 Trusted Inspections. Confident Decisions.
📞 Call or Text (228) 300-1414
Serving the entire Mississippi Gulf Coast.
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