Your clients may rely on your expertise as a real estate agent to find other professionals to help with their home-buying decisions. These professionals include home inspectors. If you’re not sure what to look for when recommending a home inspector, REMonline.com’s “Four things to look for when choosing a home inspector for your client” may help.

1. Certification and training

Recommend a home inspector who is properly trained, certified, and who has the appropriate insurance. Writer Jeffrey Brookfield, a business development consultant with AmeriSpec of Canada, suggests you look for someone who takes professional development and training seriously and constantly upgrades skills to keep up with changing building practices.

2. Thoroughness

It’s a given that the inspector you choose should be as thorough as possible. An inspector who rushes through the job is liable to make mistakes and possibly miss something important. According to Brookfield, the inspection should take no fewer than 2.5 hours and should cover all major areas of the home, including the HVAC system, electrical, plumbing, structure, and landscaping. “A top-quality inspector will guide your client through the mechanicals of the home, pointing out areas of concern, tips on future maintenance, and an overview of how the home functions,” Brookfield wrote. “The client should leave an inspection feeling fully informed.”

3. Communication

Once the inspection is complete, the inspector should provide a comprehensive written report detailing his findings. The report should be written in a manner that is easy to understand, so the client can refer to it when purchasing the home. Top-notch home inspections also provide additional resources for clients, such as a home repair manual, a repair cost guide, a moving checklist, and a seasonal checklist for home maintenance, according to Brookfield.

4. Other services

Be prepared to help your clients find other important services that could impact the transaction. These may include energy and air audits and radon testing, which are not part of the regular home inspection. “A home energy evaluation will help homeowners pinpoint where they have energy loss and how to correct the problem and save both energy and money,” Brookfield wrote. “Indoor air quality, mold, and radon testing can be lifesaving measures for any homeowner.”