Buyer's section:

What is a Home Inspector?

A home inspector is a trained professional who comes to your home for the purposes of performing an inspection on all the major systems and components of your home. An inspector's trained eye allows them to file an honest, objective opinion as to the overall condition of the house. Everything from the foundation to the heating, plumbing, and interior structure is inspected. Some possible reasons a home inspection would be ordered include:

• The home is under consideration for purchase and a professional's opinion as to its condition is desired before a commitment is made.

• The homeowner is interested in purchasing a home warranty and an inspection is required by the insurer.

• The homeowner is simply interested in knowing the condition of the house.

The process of home inspection is roughly analogous to that of an auto mechanic inspecting a used car. No one would buy a used car without paying a mechanic to peek under the hood and determine the car's mechanical condition. Likewise, it would be foolish to buy a used home without first knowing what kind of a nightmare...or, aaah dream home...one is buying.

A home is the largest single purchase most people make in their lifetimes. It only makes sense to be as knowledgeable as possible about the purchase before the papers are signed.