These tips are excerpted from my four real estate book: "1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home" by Mark Nash. ISBN: 0324232896 Thomson/South-Western 2004.

37 Know what to expect from a home inspector.
-A home inspector is a qualified professional who performs an inspection of various home systems and structures.
-The home inspector is a generalist, that is, knowledgeable in many areas, but not an expert in all.

41 Know what to expect from a home inspection.
-An examination of the exterior and interior of residential property, including the grounds, the structure, and the mechanical systems, will discover any structural defects; broken or obsolete components; and damage due to water, wear and tear, and other conditions.
-The examination should be summarized in a home inspection report.

50 Determine whether if the main electric panel contains circuit breakers or fuses.

63 Locate a clean out; a pipe fitted with a removable plug to assist in dislodging a pipe obstruction on the main sewer line.

65 Be sure that the water heater is sized properly for number of bathrooms, kitchen, laundry, and special tubs such as a Jacuzzi.

68 See whether all water supply lines to fixtures, such as sinks, toilets, and laundry, have shut-off valves.

87 Always look for worn shingles that have curled edges.

94 Look for roofs that are properly vented with ridge and soffit vents.

101 Understand the meaning of load-bearing.
-It carries an imposed load.
-Exterior and some interior walls of a structure are load-bearing.
-Before removing any wall consult with a structural engineer to determine whether a wall is load bearing.

111 If the house is on a crawl space, make sure a vapor barrier is covered with gravel or poured concrete.

119 Look for carcks and buldges in foundation walls.

124 Look for spalling (the crumbling of brick) and the need for tuckpointing (loose or missing mortar between bricks) on older brick walls and chimneys.

139 Make sure to locate main shut-offs for natural gas, water, and electrical.

144 Request that the property sellers leave all appliance, furnace, hot water heater, and other manuals and warranties in the house or bring them to closing or escrow.

145 Confirm that required smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are installed and are in the right locations for optimal operation.

147 Identify the additional types of inspections that may be suggested.
-Chimneys and fireplaces.
-Swimming pool.
-Oil and gas tanks.
-Asbestos, radon and mold.

176 Check to see whether the house was built before 1978, in which case lead-based paint is likely to have been used.

188 Look for water stains on walls, floors,and carpets, including carpet over concrete floors. Lift area rugs up to see condition of floors beneath.

192 Make sure all vents lead outdoors and nt into attics or crawl spaces.

194 Hire a professional to inspect the heating and cooling system, including humidifiers, condensing units, evaporators, and vents. Have the inspector check duct lining and insulation for mold growth.

230 Understand that termites are not the only cause of damage to wood structures.
-Other wood-destroying insects are, carpenter ants, carpenter bees, and powderpost beetles.

232 For new construction, do not go to closing until a proper Certificate of Occupancy has been granted by the local government authority.

Mark Nash

Mark Nash is an author of four books, including his recently released 1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home. Mark has been a commentator for CBS The Early Show, Bloomberg TV, interviewed by national newspapers and his articles have been widely syndicated in print and electronic media.