They say this can be a buyers market with the state of the market today. But is it really? Lots of homes on the market are foreclosures or "flips" by investors. Have they taken care of the properly? Have they done repairs that meet code?

Relax. Tom makes things simple and easy. He will be sure that the house you are buying has no major flaws that can lead to added expense and headaches. There are many, many items checked in a professional home inspection but a few of the things Tom will look for are:

• Structural flaws or major defects such as a cracked foundation or shifting concrete floors.
   

• Items that can lead to major defects such as negative drainage where the water from the downspouts flows back toward the house causing foundation deterioration.
   

• Items hidden from general view, such as missing roof shingles or bad flashing around a vent pipe.
   

• Hazards such as a disconnected furnace flue or exposed wiring in a garage that the homeowner ran himself.

Any issues found during your inspection should be addressed with the seller and their real estate agent. Many times the seller is totally unaware of the problems a home inspection may find.  While there is no requirement that the seller repairs any flaws found in the home you will know what repairs you are facing and can negotiate your offer based on those repairs. Armed with the knowledge that a pre-purchase home inspection provides, you will have one more tool to know that you are getting a fair price on your biggest investment!