If you‘re buying or selling a home, it‘s essential to have the home inspected by a qualified home inspector. Your home inspector will examine the house from top to bottom, inside and out, and give you a report on the condition of the home to help you make wise decisions.

A home inspector worth his salt will do some preparation before inspecting the home you want him to check out. He‘ll check with local authorities to get answers to a few key questions.

* What are the home‘s zoning, setback, height, and building coverage requirements?
* Are there any grandfathered uses and conditions, liens, or applicable fire regulations?
* Is the home in a seismic zone where earthquakes could occur?
* Is the home in a hurricane or high tornado-risk region?
* Is the home in a flood plain or other flood-risk zone?
* Are there any records of hazards in the soil or water on or near the home‘s site?

Once at the home, your inspector will conduct a brief walk-through of the property and the home itself. He‘ll note the property‘s overall appearance and condition. If it looks like it has been well taken care of, it‘s far less likely to have serious problems.

Your inspector will take note of the building‘s style and period and try to determine when it was built. Then he‘ll examine the quality of the home‘s design and construction. How does it compare with other homes in the neighborhood? There‘s no substitute for good design and sound, durable construction.