Your offer to purchase should include a detailed statement regarding your rights to a home inspection. A standard form used by real estate agents may give you the right to back out of a deal if a home inspection uncovers more problems than you are willing to deal with. If it does not, the wording should be added in the form of a contingency.

Don't assume the seller will make every repair you ask for. They may refuse to make any repairs at all. Read your contract carefully before signing it so that you understand the rights and obligations of all parties. Verbal agreements are worthless. They must be in writing.

There are many reasons why you should hire a qualified inspector to evaluate your new home.

• Been there, done that. Experienced inspectors have seen hundreds or even thousands of homes and have the routine down-pat. They know exactly what to look for. They usually know all the little quick-fix tricks, too, and will tell you if they find cover-up attempts.
  
• My brother can do it. Some people truly do have a friend or family member who can perform an inspection. But even though your brother may have some building experience he may not have the equipment or expertise required to do a thorough evaluation of the home. And what if he misses a major problem? Will it create hard feelings within the family?
  
• I'm in love with this house. So much in love that you're ignoring problems? An inspector takes a clinical look at the house. You'll get only the facts, and that's what you need to make decisions about going forward with the purchase.
  
• I don't care what the problems are, I want this house. If that's true go ahead. You're the only one who can determine how much time, energy and money you can devote to the house. But keep in mind that an inspection that uncovers safety issues can help you prioritize repairs.
  
• It's a brand new home. There won't be any problems. Maybe in a perfect world. New construction isn't always problem-free.