It's important to have a qualified inspector completely inspect the home you are planning to buy. If you by-pass the inspection and later discover that your house needs repairs, you'll end up spending more money in the long run.

Here are reasons why every property should be inspected prior to purchase:

• Used houses: The older the house, the greater the likelihood that you'll find defects in its mechanical and structural systems.

• New houses: Even if you're buying a newly constructed, never-been-lived-in home, having it thoroughly inspected is wise. Just because the building is new doesn't guarantee everything is perfect.

• Condominiums: You need an inspection before buying a condominium. Don't forget that when you buy a condo, you're also buying into the entire building in which your condo is located. As a co-owner of the building, you'll be assessed your proportional share of the cost for corrective work required in common areas, such as the roof, heating system, or foundation.

• Townhouses, cooperative apartments, and all other forms of co-ownership property: See the preceding bullet point about condominiums.

What it comes down to is that all properties should be inspected. Inspect detached residences, attached residences, single-family dwellings, multifamily dwellings, condos, co-ops, townhouses, and anything else that has a foundation and a roof. Protect your investment by having it inspected.