The owner of the house is required to have it inspected for termites and other "wood destroying organisms." If problems are found, they must be corrected before the owner can transfer title to you. The inspection and any necessary correction are done at the owner's expense unless you agree to pay part of those expenses. As a buyer, you can take the property "as is" without having a termite inspection, but then you are responsible for any problems with the property and the seller is off the hook.

As a buyer you may want to have the house inspected by a qualified inspector to discover any problems before closing the sale. The inspector's report becomes the basis for asking the seller to make repairs, such as a leaky roof. Your contract with the seller gives you options regarding an inspection and how repairs will be handled. Your Realtor will explain the options to you, and the seller's Realtor will explain them to the seller so that both parties know what is expected of them.