HOME INSPECTIONS Buying your first home is one of the most important decisions you will make in your lifetime. Consequently, it makes sound financial sense to obtain the services of a qualified home inspection company to ensure your home is as solid and structurally sound on the inside as it is on the outside. Whatever the age of the house you are thinking of purchasing, the best money you can ever spend is to hire a home inspector. Provide the inspector with a list of items you want addressed. Hopefully, you will be pleasantly rewarded with a perfect report. However, nearly every property has some flaws, so don't be too disappointed. A home inspection will determine the structural and mechanical soundness of the home your are interested in purchasing. Your home inspector can identify existing and potential problem areas, suggest possible solutions, and provide estimates for the cost of any work required. Shortly after the physical inspection is completed, a report reiterating the findings is usually provided to the potential purchaser. If there are any major findings, however, now is the time to learn about them. Sometimes the purchase price can be adjusted to accommodate the problem, sometimes the homeowner will have to bear the burden, at other times you will just decide not to make the purchase, based on the findings. In any case, it is better to find out now than later. Your real estate agent can ensure that your offer is conditional upon a satisfactory report of the building inspector's findings, no matter how much you have fallen in love with the property. By arranging a home inspection prior to purchase, you're protecting both yourself and your investment, as well as buying a little peace-of-mind in that you won’t end up with a house you know little about and incurring unexpected repair costs related to the structural soundness of the home. How much will a home inspection cost? The costs often range according to the size, age, and physical location of the home. Your real estate agent can recommend a reputable home inspection service or arrange for a home inspector to visit your property and you can obtain a quote from the potential inspector before you enlist his/her services.