Home buyers need to pay close attention to the inspection that their home receives. Buying a home is the most major purchase that you’ll make in your life, and you deserve to be insured that your investment is a wise one. Your home will require a lot of maintenance to make sure that it stays in top condition. In order to understand how much maintenance is involved, you need to have a home inspection.

A home inspection will also help you be sure that the asking price is fair. Hidden water damage, an old roof or termite problems should either be fixed or listed as part of the home description. You need to know what you are getting into and a home inspection can help you be absolutely sure that the listing agent and seller are delivering exactly what they are promising.

An inspection is a visual examination of the home’s physical structure and important systems, like heating and cooling. It is done by a professional who is not only familiar with home structure but the systems as well. A professional home inspector will be able to tell the quality and age of elements of your potential new home. He or she will also be able to tell how likely those elements are to need repair.

Your real estate purchase should be contingent upon the home inspection. This way if you find out anything particularly bad about the house you can opt out of buying the home. Once you’ve arranged to purchase the house, your real estate agent can refer you to a professional home inspector.

To prepare for the home inspection, make sure that the inspector will be able to have proper access to the house. The gas, electric and water should all be turned on in the home so that these systems can be tested. If the seller still has furniture in the home or items stored in the garage, they should be moved away from walls so the inspector has access to everything. If the home inspector cannot access something important, they have to mark it as an area of open risk on the official report.

It’s a good idea to attend the house inspection if you can. You can get deep insight into your home and all components that go into maintaining it. You’ll learn how to work the cut off valves and how different pieces of equipment need to be cared for. If this is your first home, this is especially important. Take notes of what you find important because it will be different from what is officially written up in the report.

The inspection will also give you a good chance to look at the home under a stronger microscope. Many people are blind to details when they are walking through the home. On this run through you’ll be able to focus in on small problems and make a list of how to take care of them.

A home inspection is one of the most important things you can do as a buyer, next to getting home owner’s insurance. When you take the time to hire a home inspector and attend the inspection, you’ll be much more aware of the ins and outs of your home. On top of that, you’ll be confident that you made the right choice.