A home inspection covers everything from the foundation to the roof, excluding areas that are not visible or accessible, such as crawl spaces or insulation behind walls. In addition to inspectingthe building; checking for lead paint, radon gas and termites; and evaluating the well water and septic system, the inspector may perform mold and air-quality tests. (Go to homeinspection.com/YourHome.asp for a list of checkpoints.) Here's how to assess the property:

1. DON'T JUDGE A HOUSE BY ITS CURB APPEAL AND WINDOW DRESSING A fresh coat of paint and a well-manicured lawn and shrubs can give any home the "buy me" look But it takes special expertise to figure out if the structure is solid.

2. DIG DEEPER Unless you do, you can't tell if there are plumbing, electrical or structural problems. And even if you tour the home a number of times, you may not be able to gauge the actual condition of the heating and air-conditioning equipment. You need a home inspector--that is, someone to certify the condition of your property and to warn you of items that could cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars down the road.FIND A HOME INSPECTOR Get several recommendations from your agent or friends. Most states require home inspectors to be licensed, but it's important to check them out yourself. The National Association of Home Inspectors (nahi.org) and the American Society of Home Inspectors (ashi.org) can help you find an inspector who belongs to their trade associations. Before you hire anyone, contact the local Better Business Bureau and the Department of Consumer Affairs to find out whether any complaints have been registered against the inspector or the inspector's company. Ask the inspector for references and an example of the report he prepares. And "make sure the home inspector has coverage for errors-and-commissions [a special type of insurance] so that if he or she fails to discover a defect, you can seek damages for negligence," says Ulysses "Deke" Clayborn, chair of the National Bar Association's real estate and probate law section and general counsel of the Missouri Housing Development Commission.