The average size home may cost you anywhere between $250 and $350 for a home inspection by a qualified and licenses home inspector. The inspector’s report should be complete including exterior and interior home conditions including roof, electrical, plumbing, hvac, built in appliances and other particulars to the home in question. The repairs should be taken care of by the seller within the scope of your contract agreement. Even if nothing was found to be wrong, you can sleep soundly knowing that all was in good order. Should you decide to skip the inspection to save $250 and later discover that your house needs $25,000 worth of repairs, you'll end up spending $100 in repairs for every dollar that you "saved."

Here are reasons why every property should be inspected prior to purchase:

Existing Properties: Many homes have problems that even the sellers are not aware of even though they live there. Obviously, the older the house, the greater the likelihood that you'll find defects in its mechanical and structural systems. Unless purchasing negotiations have you accepting the property “as is”, then an existing property should always be inspected for problems.

New Construction: Even if you're buying a newly constructed, never- been-lived-in home, having it thoroughly inspected is wise. Just because the building is new doesn't guarantee that it was built properly. Believe it or not, brand-new houses often have construction flaws, sometimes major. Some homebuilders are not competent, or they cut corners to save some money and boost their profits. Even if being offered the builder’s warranty, it is wise to have your newly constructed home inspected by an independent inspector.

Condominiums: You need an inspection before buying a condominium. Don't forget that when you buy a condo, you're also buying into the entire building in which your condo is located. As a co-owner of the building, you'll be assessed your proportional share of the cost for corrective work required in common areas, such as the roof, heating system, or foundation. This can be a costly surprise if not property looked at in advance of your purchase.

All properties should be inspected. Inspect detached residences, attached residences, single-family dwellings, multifamily dwellings, condos, co-ops, townhouses, and anything else that has a foundation and a roof. If you're spending big bucks for a property, protect your investment by having it inspected.