Home Inspection Guide: What to Expect and How to Negotiate Repairs

A home inspection is your safety net when buying a house. It's the professional examination that reveals what's really going on behind the fresh paint and staged furniture—and it can save you from making the most expensive mistake of your life. In this comprehensive guide, you'll learn exactly what happens during a home inspection, how to interpret the findings, negotiate repairs like a pro, and recognize the red flags that should make you walk away. A home inspection is a thorough, visual examination of a property's condition, typically conducted after your offer is accepted but before you finalize the purchase. A licensed home inspector evaluates the major systems and structural components to identify defects, safety hazards, and items needing repair or replacement. Here's what makes inspections crucial: Sellers are required to disclose known problems, but they might not know about issues hiding in the attic, crawl space, or behind walls. The inspection uncovers these hidden prob