The most common inspection, a full home inspection is typically performed prior to purchasing a property, with the inspector's findings being grounds for negotiating on price, planning for future costs, or simply walking away from the deal. 

It is a non-invasive visual examination of a residential dwelling which is designed to identify material defects within specific components of the dwelling. Components may include any combination of mechanical, structural, electrical, plumbing, or other essential systems or portions of the home, as identified and agreed to by the client and inspector prior to the inspection process.