Putting down thousands of dollars on a home can be nerve-wracking. You might be wondering what happens to your deposit if substantial issues are found during the home inspection. Before making a deposit, it could be wise to include a home inspection contingency in your contract. If you have that contingency in place and the inspector finds problems, such as issues with the house’s foundation or roof, you might be able to receive your deposit back. In some highly competitive housing markets, buyers might consider waiving the home inspection contingency to make their offer more attractive to sellers. Keep in mind that if you waive the home inspection contingency and find issues in the home, you could lose your earnest money deposit.