hiring a home The Canadian home inspection profession steadily entered public awareness during the 1970’s.  Prior to 2011, anyone could put out a shingle "claiming" that they were a home inspector.  As the demand for home inspections grew, so did the profession - and subsequently, professional training, standards of practice, and reporting methods were put in place - all of which continue to be developed and improved.  In 2011 Licensing and Regulation of Home Inspection Businesses and Home Inspectors went into affect in Alberta.   Alberta Home inspection businesses must have: • a current license from the Government of Alberta,• a bond or other form of security, and • errors and omissions insurance. After verifying if your chosen home inspector is licensed, bonded and insured - consumers should continue to be conscientious of who they hire to inspect - for what is likely to be their most expensive purchase ever.  Consumers should be aware of the potential implications of scheduling an inspection on price alone. The expert advice from a qualified home inspector, along with your real estate professional, will help guide you to make an informed choice.  This is not the time to choose the cheapest option.  Please see these websites for more information:  http://www.servicealberta.gov.ab.ca/pdf/tipsheets/Hiring_a_Home_Inspector.pdf  http://www.qp.alberta.ca/documents/Regs/2011_075.pdf