Buying a home is a major investment, and it is important to do your due diligence before completing the purchase. Once the sale of the home is final, any issues you find will most likely be your responsibility to handle. To help ensure you cover all your bases, here are some tips for thoroughly vetting a home.  

Read the Homeowners Association Rules

The homeowners association's rules and guidelines can influence what you can and cannot do with your property. Violating a rule could result in fines and even put you at risk for being sued by the association. Even if you have lived in a neighborhood with a homeowners association, take the time to review the guidelines of the new neighborhood. Rules can vary by association. 

If you do not understand the rules, ask for clarification. Before purchasing the home, you want to be sure that you can live with the rules that have to be followed.  

Get a Home Inspection

In an effort to stand out from other buyers, some people waive the right to a home inspection. Unfortunately, without the home inspection, you cannot be sure that the home does not have major problems that could wind up costing you money down the road. 

If you did not waive your right to an inspection, schedule one for as soon as possible. Your real-estate agent and attorney most likely ensured that the purchase contract included a provision that allowed you to back out of the purchase of the home if the results of the inspection were bad.  

Check the Title

A final step you need to take before you buy the home is to check the title. You want to make sure the seller is the actual homeowner and has the legal right to sell the home.  

You also need to be sure that there are no liens on the home. If you buy the home with a lien, there is a possibility that you could end up being responsible for removing the lien. This could prove costly to handle.  

A search will also help you to find out if there are any pending legal issues involving the property. You want to ensure that the issue is resolved by the seller before the purchase is settled.  

Your real-estate agent can help you determine if there are additional checks that should be conducted before you complete the purchase of a home.