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A professional home inspector usually has a background in construction, engineering, or both. He gives your house a thorough going-over, checking its systems, structure, materials, and condition. He compares the condition of the house to current building standards and alerts you to potential problems. The inspector won't fix (or arrange to fix) anything, but his report shows you what needs repair - now and down the road - so you can decide whether to buy the house in its current condition, ask the seller for repairs or a credit, or cancel the sale.
A home inspector doesn't provide an assessment of your home's value, either, so don't even ask - that's an appraiser's job.
Home inspectors inspect only the parts of your house that he can access and view. For example, while he might suspect and report a potential problem with your foundation, he won't dig down to confirm it. (In a case like that, you need to hire a foundation engineer to do a specialized inspection.) Home inspectors observe and note the house's condition, but they don't guarantee that condition or provide a home warranty.
