Home inspectors aren’t interchangeable. Educated Pittsburgh area homeowners can take steps to make sure they’ve chosen the best inspector with the most useful product. Here are some tips on choosing a home inspector.

Ask what kind of report you will be provided. There are checklist inspections, computer generated programs, and narrative style reports.

Ask for a sample report. You want a home inspection for more than the piece of paper. Get an inspection report that will be useful to you as a home owner and as a home seller. For example, which of these items are most useful to a home owner, seller or buyer?

Chimney: Condition - Fair.

Chimney: Condition - Loose mortar, missing bricks on exterior. Danger of further deterioration if not repaired.

A vague "good, fair or poor" checklist report is simply not as valuable to you as a more descriptive, narrative report, but may cost the same. The only way to know is to ask, and shop around.

Once you receive your report, take the time to become familiar with it. Understand keys and symbols used, and if you’re unclear about anything, ask the person who prepared the report.

Accompany your inspector through the inspection if practical. Not only will this help you better understand the condition of your home and the details of your report, it gives you a chance to raise questions and address issues as they arise.

Read your report from beginning to end. If there is anything you feel is inaccurate or misleading, you want to be the first to notice it, not a prospective buyer.