Home Inspection

Years ago, home inspections were unheard of in residential real estate transactions. Instead, buyers simply relied on their own impressions of the home and the representations of the seller's real estate agent. Today, the process is dramatically different. Most real estate purchase contracts give the buyer fairly broad rights to order one or more professional inspections of the home before completing the purchase.

The right to have inspections comes with the challenge of hiring diligent and competent inspectors. Finding the right person isn't as easy as it may seem because in most areas, just about anyone with an official-looking checklist and a flashlight can set up shop as a home inspector. 

A good real estate agent should be willing and able to recommend several well-qualified home inspectors.