Hire an independent inspector who has no vested interest in the transaction and who is a member of a trade association, such as the American Society of Home Inspectors. These members have agreed to abide by a written code of ethics and prescribed standards of practice designed to protect prospective buyers. Selecting An Inspector Check the reputation and experience of the firm you want to hire. Verify that the firm's employees have adequate training and are certified by a nationally recognized training organization. An inspector can save a future home owner a lot of grief and expense by identifying potential problems.
Inspectors check the condition of the structural, electrical, and mechanical elements of a house.
While they won't recommend whether or not you should buy the house, they can tell you about defects they find and the estimated cost of repairing or replacing the defect. Inspectors usually look for significant defects only. Inspectors, unless contracted to do otherwise, do not routinely check for termites, asbestos or radon. They do not report on coldness of refrigerators, accuracy of oven temperatures, carpet stains or loose door knobs. An inspection may not include anything outside the house, such as pools, garages, sheds or water flow from an outside well.