Having your home evaluated by a professional before you place it on the market can eliminate a number of problems that occur during the selling process. This will allow you to fix anything that is in need of repair so that you do not have people backing out of potential deals at the last minute because of problems with your home. Many of these are relatively easy to fix, so they should be looked at thoroughly.
If you are buying a home, you will also have the home inspected by a professional because he or she will be able to turn up a number of potential problems that you should have fixed before purchasing.

WHAT DOES A HOME INSPECTOR DO, AND HOW DOES AN INSPECTION FIGURE IN THE PURCHASE OF A HOME?

What the inspector does is give the home a thorough inspection for any safety issues that are present. This includes things like the foundation, construction and anything mechanical inside the home. This inspector will let you know everything that needs to be repaired and will fill you in on any minor issues that could become larger problems in the future.
This inspector is not a buyer's broker so he or she will not be able to inform anyone what he or she thinks the house is worth. The job of this inspector is basically to check things like the heating, plumbing, water source, and even check for things like termites that could do structural damage the house. Finding a qualified and experienced home inspector is a must because anything that is missed could be very expensive to fix down the line.
Once you find out what is wrong with the home, you can begin fixing everything that absolutely must be fixed. In doing so, hire people to come in and do it the right way because there is a chance that the buyer will bring in an inspector as well and you will want everything to pass the test. If there are any serious problems, you may want to leave them for the next owner, but be sure to let them know about the problems and take them off of the price of the house. Otherwise, the house will be very difficult to sell.

DO I NEED TO BE THERE FOR THE INSPECTION?

You do not have to be there, but it will help in finding out everything that is wrong with the house. Some of these things may be simple to fix so you could do them yourself. You can also ask questions about who to call to get these things fixed, which will help you greatly.

ARE OTHER TYPES OF INSPECTIONS REQUIRED?

There are other health issues like asbestos that will need to be looked at a little more closely if they are found. If the home inspector recommends a professional, be sure to contact one immediately and get the home inspected even more closely.

HOW CAN I PROTECT MY FAMILY FROM LEAD IN THE HOME?

If you are living in an older home, there is a chance that it contains lead based paint. Since you have already been living there, you have probably taken care of any issues regarding this problem, but just to be sure, put an extra coat of paint over top of any paint that is chipping away. If you are unsure about something, bring in a professional to take a look at it.