Inspecting the home is crucial before the buyer commits to the purchase. A thorough home inspector can detect safety threats, structural concerns, and costly repairs hiding behind a fresh coat of paint.
At the top of the list: foundation cracks and signs of settling, active roof leaks, outdated or unsafe electrical panels (federal Pacific and Zinsco panels being the classic examples), and galvanized or polybutylene plumbing that's prone to failure.
Water intrusion is another big one, whether that's grading that pushes water toward the foundation, a failed shower pan, or staining in the attic that points to a slow, ongoing roof leak rather than a one-time event.
None of these automatically kill a deal. What matters is knowing they exist before you close, so you can negotiate, budget for repairs, or walk away with your eyes open instead of finding out the hard way six months in.