The purpose of a home inspection is to have a third party—the Inspector—poke, prod, and generally kick the tires of the home you’re thinking of buying. The Inspector will conduct a comprehensive visual inspection of the building, to detail the condition of structural integrity, systems like heating and electrical, the roof, potential leaks, and so on.

Most Inspectors have a checklist they use, that has space under each item for them to make notes about the specific conditions of the property. The Inspector may suggest more detailed evaluation of a particular problem by a certified plumber, electrical, HVAC specialist, or other contractor. The Inspector will note any problems in the inspection report. The buyer can use the details of the inspection, to negotiate with the seller for repairs or price concessions. The buyer can also use the Report as a checklist, to make home improvements after moving in.

Conversely, the home inspection will highlight the best aspects of the home, as well. The Inspector should also provide you details of maintenance best practices, specific to the home’s systems and structure.

Buying a home is the biggest investment most people ever make. Get all the information you can about the property, before you buy.

If you’re a seller, you may want to conduct an inspection, before putting your house on the Market. This way, you can either make necessary repairs to increase the value of your home that you can advertise (such as a new roof), or you can prepare yourself for what the buyer’s inspection may highlight.