Liz -- I appreciate your perspective -- but allow me to disagree. A home is a major purchase and for a consumer to be successful there is a need to acquire professional services. To "save" money by not using a professional inspector is, in my view, not the best strategy. Consumer protection laws are largely useless unless a buyer can document problems -- and realistically that's not possible without an inspection. As to attorneys, they are cheap when they prevent problems. The good news is that there are now buyer brokers to represent purchasers. That's an important consumer protection -- but buyer brokers are not home inspectors. The core issue is that people substitute a seller disclosure form for a home inspection. Consumers are far better off with an inspection. All the best. Peter