A home inspection is a paid, visual examination of a house's structure and systems, usually ordered by the buyer after a contract is signed, covering the roof, foundation, plumbing, electrical, and heat and air. The inspector writes a report of what they find, which the buyer can use to ask for repairs, a credit, or to cancel under an inspection contingency.
Why it matters
What an inspection turns up is usually the next thing a buyer negotiates over, whether or not you sell as-is.