If you are prospectively buying a new or used home you should have a home inspection conducted. There are several benefits that can result from a home inspection.

A home inspection will protect you from future surprises and headaches involving rotting exterior or a moldy interior.

The article, “Home inspections Avert Future Headaches,” written by Warren Lutz for move.com, explains how valuable, both financially and psychologically, home inspections can be.

“ Suppose you bought a house and later discovered, to your dismay, that the stucco exterior concealed a nasty case of dry rot. Or suppose that winter when you fired up the furnace, you discovered a cracked heat exchanger leaking gas into your home.”

A home inspection will find out these imperfections quickly, allowing you time to either have them repaired before you move in or allowing to time to back out of buying the home altogether if the damage constitutes health risks or future complications.

“A good home inspection is an objective, top-to-bottom examination of the home and everything that comes with it. The standard inspection report includes a review of the home's heating and air-conditioning systems, its plumbing and wiring, the roof, attic, walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors, the foundation and the basement.”

Getting a professional home inspection is crucial for both older and newer homes. Older homes are susceptible to damaged roofs and other hard to reach places. Shoddy or no repair work can also result in faulty wiring or missing outlets.

Newer homes however, can easily have imperfections that slip by initial inspection because the initial inspection is more geared towards the layout and physical construction of the home.

“Home inspections cost about $250 to $350, depending on the size of the house and where in the country the home is located. Inspection fees tend to be higher in urban areas and cities than in rural areas. Real estate agents can usually recommend an experienced home inspector.”

The best way to find a reputable home inspector is from a friend’s personal referral. This way you will trust the source, thus have confidence in the inspector.

You can also look in the Yellow Pages under "Building Inspection" or "Home Inspection." The American Society of Home Inspectors, a professional trade group, also has a database of qualified, local inspectors on its Web site.

Another great reason to have a home inspection conducted is for education. “ Most buyers want to learn as much as they can about their purchase so they can protect their investment. An examination by an impartial home inspector helps this learning process.”

A prospective home buyer usually hires a home inspector immediately following signing purchase agreement documents. Results from the inspection are usually reported back to buyer within a couple of days.

At this time, the inspector will provide you of a detailed report of his or her findings of the home and its immediate surrounding area. If there are major hazardous problems, you may be advised not to buy the house.

This report can then be used as a legal document to allow you to cancel moving into the house without having to pay large fees.