Table of contents : Introduction: Every house is a silent edifice of unspoken secrets -- A Short History of Home Inspection: Disclosure marks the historical turning point in American real estate -- Understanding the Home Inspection Process: Home inspection is often a grand mystery to buyers and sellers -- The Basic Premise of Home Inspection -- Common Misconceptions -- Scope of a Home Inspection -- When to Schedule the Inspection -- Inspection Contingency -- Hours Needed for an Inspection. Inspections Can Also Benefit Sellers -- Attending the Home Inspection: If you miss the inspection, you may also miss the boat -- Choosing the Right Home Inspector: Home inspectors are not created equal! -- Professional Affiliations -- Home Inspection Experience -- Errors and Omissions Insurance -- Building Code Certification -- Formal Home Inspection Training -- Request a Sample Report -- Choose Your Own Home Inspector -- Avoid Price Shopping. Inspecting Brand-New Homes: The Trojan Horse was new ... and should have been inspected -- Municipal Inspectors -- Reliable Builders -- Builders' Warranties -- Uncooperative Builders -- New Homes Need to Be Inspected -- Scope and Limitations of a Home Inspection: Home inspectors are constrained by human limits -- Conditions Within the Scope of a Home Inspection -- Conditions Outside the Scope of a Home Inspection. The Home Inspector's Liability: There are two kinds of home inspectors: those who have been sued and those who will be -- Converging Views of Liability -- Fair and Unfair Liability -- Actual Monetary Liability -- After the Inspection: Repairs and Renegotiation: Moving ahead, starting over, or walking away -- Guidelines for Negotiation -- The Response of Sellers -- Dealing with Repairs -- Problems After the Sale: Cleaning up the spilt milk -- Defining the Issues. Appropriate versus Inappropriate Complaints -- Known versus Unknown Defects -- Deliberate versus Inadvertent Nondisclosure -- Acceptance and Avoidance of Disclosure Responsibility -- Homebuyer's Inspection Checklist: Don't try to do this at home -- Foundation Checklist -- Grading and Drainage Checklist -- Electrical Checklist -- Plumbing Checklist -- Heating Checklist -- Cooling Systems Checklist -- Building Exterior Checklist -- Yard Area Checklist -- Garage Checklist. Roofing Checklist -- Wood-Burning Fixtures Checklist -- Building Interior Checklist -- Homebuyer's Checklist.