If you bought or sold a home, you may have undergone an independent home inspection. This type of home inspection is designed to provide both buyers and sellers with critical information about the condition of the home’s systems: heating and cooling, electrical, plumbing, tightness, roof condition, and safety. This type of inspection is very detailed and provides a great deal of information about the home. While this type of inspection is not necessary, it can help buyers avoid a “money hole” and can help sellers understand what can drive buyers away.

A friend recently wrote to tell me that they bought a house and expected the home inspector to look for termites. After moving in, they decided to remodel. They found that termites had completely eaten the wooden structure on 3 walls.

I told them that one of the things that home inspectors don’t do is inspect for pests, as they are not qualified to identify them. Pest control professionals are qualified to find pest infestations and should be called in prior to purchase. Most of the time, your real estate agent will suggest which inspections to conduct to protect yourself.

This got me thinking about home inspection myths. Here are the top 6 myths.

• Home inspectors inspect for termites. Myth! Unfortunately for the couple above who believed this, the repairs were very expensive.

• You should not attend the inspection of the house you are buying, because it will annoy the inspector. Myth! Inspectors appreciate that their customers attend the inspection and know that they can fully communicate problems to them. Sometimes written reports don’t explain everything completely. If clients are out of town and unable to attend the inspection, they should hold a conference call to discuss the elements of the report as soon as possible after the report is completed.

• The seller is responsible for fixing anything the inspector deems wrong. Myth! Repairs, even the most serious, are negotiable. However, sellers can back out of a deal if the inspector discovers serious flaws.

• New construction requires an independent home inspection to obtain the Certificate of Occupancy. Myth! New construction does it Require progressive inspections by the municipal building inspector to ensure safety and code compliance. If you are moving into a newly built home, I would personally recommend an independent home inspection as well, as it will catch a lot of loose ends.

• If the home appraisal is excellent, there can be no problem with the home and you don’t need another inspection. Myth! A home appraisal is based on many factors, including market conditions, location, and materials (HardiePlank and granite countertops, for example), but it doesn’t inspect systems that actually work or structural integrity.

• The home inspection will take about 30 minutes. Myth! A full home inspection should take 2 to 5 hours, depending on the size and complexity of the home. There are hundreds of inspection points when inspecting a home, including walking on the roof and crawling through the driveway.

Now that you are the home inspection expert, you can test these questions with your friends and see how they are doing.