Make your offer contingent upon a home inspection to protect yourself from losing thousands of dollars in the long run. The inspection will reveal to you the entire condition of your desired home, including any repairs that need to be made.

You can count on us to provide you with the best inspectors out there! Among our favorites, is Ken Ives Inspections, who performs an extensive home inspection. His report comprises detailed data about the exterior condition of the home, roofing information, plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical systems information, and information about other intricate home details.

You may wish to include in your contract (or, agreement of sale), the right to cancel if you are not satisfied with the inspection results. At that point, you can either re-negotiate for a lower sales price or require the seller to make the necessary repairs.

If you want to be really proactive, you can either accompany the home inspector, or make some visual assessments on the home's condition. Be sure to evaluate the following:

• The Structure--Check the basement's foundation for cracks or water marks. Check the floors (are they level?), check the roof (does it sag?).
• Water Damage--Look for unevenly painted ceiling or wall; signs of re-plastering or re-tiling in just one area of a room.
• Water Pressure--Flush toilet and turn on both hot and cold water faucets at the same time.
• Plumbing--Inquire about what types of pipes are installed and their age.
• Wiring--Do lights flicker? Check for electrical outlets (generally, 2 in each room).
• Energy Efficiency--Ask to check last year's heating and cooling bills. Determine if proper insulation is being used.
• Routine House Cleaning--Check paint, furnace filters, gutters, caulking in bathrooms, landscaping, floors, walls, etc.
• Home Features--Check for any features that may increase or decrease the value and appeal of the home.

After reviewing the inspection report, accompany me or your Realtor to a final Walk-Thru of the house. Collect all home warranties and owner's manuals from the owner. Ensure that items that needed to be repaired have been repaired. Make certain that you also receive a copy of the Appraisal, which lists the estimated market value of the property. Finally, get ready for the last step, closing and signing of loan documents.