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If you're in the process of house hunting, here's a tip that you should pay careful attention to:

Whether you are considering buying a brand new house, and older house in good shape, or a handyman special, get the house inspected before closing the sale.

An inspection will cost you a few hundred dollars, but the knowledge you will gain ' and the money you can possibly save ' are a wise investment!

While a home inspection is recommended by any good realtor, anyone who has been through the house buying process knows that a home inspection is very important. In general (and it may be different in your state) home inspectors are NOT licensed contractors.

So, while they will look at the overall condition of your electrical, plumbing, and carpentry, you might want to consider hiring a licensed contractor or engineer to do your home inspection. It's more expensive, but if major problems exist ' ones that most people could not identify ' it will more than pay for itself.

AT THE VERY LEAST, if you see potential problems, hire a plumber, electrician, and carpenter to give you an estimate for any possible repairs. Some will do this for a small fee, some will do it free, but either way, it will be well worth the peace of mind!

If there are any problems with the house, ask the seller to fix them.

The seller is NOT required to fix them, so if they say no, you need to decide whether you want to fix them yourself (and if you can even afford to fix them). Or if you want to call off the deal and look for a new house (but make sure to consult with your lawyer first!). These inspections cost money, but major surprises can cost you much, much more!

Make sure you look OUTSIDE the house as well.

Have the septic inspected, have the well inspected, look around the yard and check out the entire property. Don't overlook anything that might cost you money later on.

Ask the sellers for service records of any appliances that will stay with you, such as the furnace, central air conditioning, etc.

Finally, get YOUR own inspector, not one connected with the realtor.

And as with any major contract, ask the inspector for references first, and contact them. Also, make sure your inspector is licensed by the state in which you are buying the house (most states require this licensing, but better to be safe). This may help you later on if there are any problems.

It's YOUR money.

And YOUR house.

So do EVERYTHING you can to avoid paying any more money than you have to!

During the inspection, walk through the house with the inspector. Watch everything that the inspector 'inspects' (and does not inspect) and ask as many questions as you want to learn as much as you can about the house.

Look at everything ' little and big ' such as outlets, switches, faucets, small areas, phone lines, etc. The inspector might take a quick look at these items, but make sure everything works ' all light switches, outlets, etc. If not, have the inspector put it on the report.

After the inspection, you should receive a written report. Make sure you read between the lines of the inspection report - and take your time reading the fine print. The sellers will want a response within a few days, and you don't want to miss the deadline.

But at the same time, take your time reading through the report!

You would think that items that should be addressed would be highlighted, but that's not always the case.

So take your time, and read the report thoroughly!

If ANYTHING is broken, or even questionable, consider hiring a specialist ' for the chimney, pool, central air, etc. ' many professionals will come out for free to take a look at the items, and give you a quote!

Even if the sellers don't agree to fix all the problems (which is likely, so don't worry) it's better for you to know, and avoid costly surprises after you move in!