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. Inspectors are not required to check the adequacy of the heat supply to individual rooms, examine carpet or drapes, or even make sure that the roofing materials comply with local codes. They do not have to test every single door and window or electrical outlet in the house, only a representative sample.