Home inspections performed on homes should reveal some possible functional problems, but inspectors don’t probe inside walls, under floor coverings, pipes underground, and behind finished walls. Yes, some problems that aren’t readily visible won’t be revealed, but a home inspection should reveal some potential problems that may not be found by an untrained eye.
Update 1-29-2015: What Buyers Should Know About Home Inspections
Update 9-16-2014: Some areas that home inspectors cover
HUD has published a list of 10 questions to ask your home inspector Click here for the list of questions to ask home inspectors – http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/insp/inspfaq.cfm
Checkout this HUD’s website for information about home inspections. – http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/housing/inspection/home.htm
Another good website to visit for information is the GAHI (Georgia Association of Home Inspectors) – http://www.gahi.com/
A good website report some categories by the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors Click here for summary of inspection items – http://homebuying.about.com/od/homeshopping/qt/091107_homeinsp.htm
Some good advice regarding contractual and actual use of home inspectors and the national associations for home inspectors. Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/realestate/why-home-inspections-have-become-more-important/2012/05/10/gIQAYbL6FU_story.html
References to products and services are not a specific endorsement, but the user must perform their due diligence and investigate whether the product or service is right for them.