A seller's failure to disclose property defects can cause you to lose a potential sale or even land you in legal hot water.  In today's litigation-drenched
environment, it can pay to have a working knowledge of home inspection basics, so that hidden flaws don't create huge hassles for you later on.  Inspect
America's Home Inspection Supersite: http://www.inspectamerica.com contains
articles you can use to improve your home inspection knowledge and bring
customers up to speed on common problem areas.

The site's "Get Advice" and "Browse Library" sections contain articles that teach users how to identify and fix common home defects, as well as addition
information that explains the home inspection process.  (Users can also scan the "Most Popular Pages" on the homepage to read articles from both sections.  The "Get Advice" section walk readers through home inspection basics, such as selecting an inspector, the top ten most common home defects, and what to
expect from a home inspector's report.

The site's online library is broken into several subsections.  The "Technical Aisle" covers specific home defects, such as termite infestations, water seepage, and unsafe stairways.  The site approaches these sometimes dull topics with a sense of humor, for instance comparing termites to people who eat Oreo cookies from the inside out.  The "Reference Aisle" contains home inspection glossaries and links to other home inspection resources.  Finally, the "Lounge" offers a home inspection pop quiz, FAQs, and daily news, featuring sources such as Inman.com and the New York Times.

The Home Inspection Supersite "Home Inspection Checklist" provides a
thorough listing of potential defects, covering both home interiors and exteriors. It allows prospective buyers to grade individual home features from basements to roofs, as good, fair, or poor.  As the site points out, this document isn't a
substitute for an inspection by a licensed, trained home inspector.  But it can be a handy resource to help buyers keep track of specific home details that can
become blurry for them after they've seen a few houses.

The site also provides a state-by-state home inspector directory.  However, this section is limited, offering only a handful of listings for each state.  If you are  looking for a home inspector, you would probably be better off thumbing through your local yellow pages, browsing the American Society of Home
Inspectors homepage, or relying on your personal references.

The last-minute discovery of a home defect can send you into crisis mode,
requiring the seller to hire a contractor to correct the problem or slash the
asking price.  And if a buyer uncovers problems after the home is sold, they might even respond with a lawsuit.  On the other hand, it's helpful to be able to be directed to a site that will help you spot potential problems.  In any case,
developing your ability to spot home defects in time can save you time, energy, and money down the line.