A home inspection is an independent, visual examination of a property's condition, typically conducted after your offer is accepted, by a licensed inspector you hire — not the seller's agent, not your agent, and not the lender. Its purpose is to give you an honest, professional look at the home before your purchase becomes final.
A general inspection typically covers the home's major systems and structure: the roof, foundation, electrical system, plumbing, HVAC (heating and cooling), and visible signs of water damage or safety issues. A thorough inspector will walk you through their findings and provide a written report, usually with photos, that you can reference later.
It's important to know what a general inspection typically does not cover: things like a full sewer line camera scan, mold testing, or a wood-destroying insect (termite) inspection are usually separate, specialized services that you can request in addition, often for an added fee — and depending on the home's age, location, or your lender's requirements, one or more of these may be worth adding.
During the option period or inspection contingency window covered in the Offer stage, you'll typically have a set number of days to have the inspection done and decide how to respond to what it finds — which can include asking the seller to make repairs, asking for a price or credit adjustment, or, in some cases, walking away from the deal, depending on the terms of your specific contract.
An inspection is about information, not guarantees — even an experienced inspector can't see inside walls or predict every future issue. Its real value is turning "how's this house actually doing?" from a guess into a documented, professional assessment you can make decisions from.