QDEAR BARRY: As a real estate broker, I strongly endorse home inspection, but I have one complaint with the inspectors in my area. When undisclosed defects are discovered after the sale, they won't reinspect the problems they've missed or offer to have them repaired. Their reports clearly state that they are liable only for conditions that exist on the day of the inspection. When buyers move in and find defects, inspectors say the problems are new or were not visible during the inspection.

This conflict is compounded by buyers who expect agents, sellers and inspectors to pay for every undesirable condition as though the world is their personal insurance company. That's when home inspectors should get involved. You have said that inspectors should review problems that turn up after the sale, but what about inspectors who refuse to cooperate? -- Robbie

Countless claims are made against inspectors, real estate agents and sellers for sundry undisclosed home defects. Some of these claims are valid, but some are not. Some of the conditions found after the buyers move in were not visible at the inspection, while others were plainly visible but were simply missed by the inspector.