It simply doesn't make sense to spend tens of thousands of dollars without a careful look at what you're getting for your money. But a careful examination of a building is not as easy as it sounds. What do you look for? How do you judge the quality of construction? Few of us have the expertise to make an adequate evaluation. The emotional experience of buying a home often blinds us to the facts of the conditions of the home. It takes a registered professional engineer who specializes in home and building inspections to provide a sound and independent evaluation.