Check the systems that cost real money to replace, and check how well the seller has maintained everything else. The expensive systems are what turn a good deal into a money pit: - The roof, which is deceptively hard to judge without experience - The HVAC (furnace and condenser age) - The plumbing, since some older homes still carry their original galvanized pipe - The water heater Alongside those, read the overall signs of upkeep. Deferred maintenance tends to come as a package, so visible neglect tells you a lot about what you can't see. On an older home, we'd personally attend the professional inspection and walk through with the inspector. Look at the electrical panel, the outlets, the attic (leak stains get painted over but rarely fixed properly), and the crawlspace or foundation on a raised home. Ask the inspector directly about anything that looks off. A buyer standing there in person often notices things the inspector doesn't flag as significant, and that back-and-forth is where you learn what you're really buying. None of this replaces the formal inspection during your contingency period. This is how you decide whether the home is worth writing an offer on in the first place.