A home is one of the largest purchases that most people will ever make in their lifetimes, and it’s important to understand exactly what you’re getting before you purchase. Flaws overlooked or simply neglected by a previous owner can cause a tremendous hidden expense for home buyers, and there are few things worse than buying a home only to unexpectedly invest thousands in renovations or repairs. A real estate agent and previous homeowners may not be able to tell a potential buyer everything about a house before they buy it, and they could be unpleasantly surprised by flaws in the home.