A general home inspection is a lot like taking a car to a mechanic to check it out before you drive it off the lot. With a house, the investment is much larger, making the inspection even more prudent. The buyer is generally obligated to contract most inspections so he or she knows the home's physical condition before plunking down a deposit and signing off on a commitment to buy.

In many states, laws dictate that the seller disclose known defects that could affect the value or salability of thier home. There are rules for disclosing the general condition of the home as well as seismic hazards, geological hazards, environmental hazards, such as lead, asbestos and radon, structural pest damage, and a host of others.

A general home inspection will let you know what you can negotiate, and it will help you spot items inside and outside that need your attention if you purchas the home.

A buyer's inspection that turns up thousands of dollars of necessary repairs could at the very least delay the sale. If the report is clean, on the other hand, it can be a positive tool to reassure you of the home's condition. Some real estate experts say the $200 to $500 or so spent for a general home inspection every once in a while is money well invested to keep you on top of maintenance that your untrained eye may not notice. Local laws, your home's condition, it's location, type, age and other factors will dictate what additional inspections are in order.