Doing a home inspection in a home purchase can sometimes be tricky. You can hire a professional to do it for you or you could opt for a do-it-yourself home inspection. You can do a home inspection yourself if you have some idea on what you should look for. It could be helpful to research on things to look for. You can buy a home inspection checklist at any hardware store or online.

Although it is no replacement to a licensed home inspection, conducting your own inspection can offer a good sense of the state of the property. The following are tips in conducting a do-it-yourself home inspection.

1. Check out the surroundings of the house and evaluate the driveway for wear and cracks. Most of all, check out the drainage. Check out the outside railings, staircases and porches as well. Rotting and chipping wood is a clear indication of structure problems. Use a level to ensure that pillars and stairs are horizontally and vertically even.

2. Inspect the roof for damage indicators. Lost shingles can be repaired easily, but a low-angle roof that pools water is a warning sign.

3. Find out if there are wood-inhabiting creatures around. Growth of white fungus on the wood exterior indicates high-moisture content, which can cause damage and could be a sign of termite habitation.

4. Inspect the home interior by watching out for cracking or bulging on the ceiling and walls. These areas are the first indicators of internal problems.

5. Check the water systems and test taps, toilets and drains. Pay particular attention to the type and condition of the pipes under sinks and note rust and watch out for mold deposits on pipes that disappear into walls.

6. Check the overview of the electrical and heating systems such as ventilation fans, especially those coming from the furnace. Try to check for dangling or loose wires, loose light fixtures and rusted circuit breakers.

7. Check the doors and windows and watch out for dry rot.

8. Inspect the condition of the bathroom cabinets, kitchen and countertops. Look for lost knobs, chipping, stuck doors, missing drawer or doors.

Remember, never buy a house until you have made a home inspection, either by hiring professional home inspector or inspecting the home yourself. Home inspections can save you money and determine problem areas in the home that you should watch out for. Check out the home in the same way you check on a product line and the market before you invest. By inspecting the home before you proceed to the closing, you will know ahead of time what kind of house you are buying. While you may be contented with performing repairs to the house on your own expense, you have to determine the exact state of the house.

Schedule when to perform a home inspection. Usually, you can do it before you make an offer and before signing a contract of purchase. Always reserve your right to cancel the offer or renegotiate the agreement if you discover defects while doing a home inspection on your own.