It goes without saying that buying a house is a serious investment. To help ensure that you're getting your money's worth and not setting yourself up to live in a building rife with structural problems and health risks, it is imperative to make an appointment for a home inspection first. Professional contractors can assess a property and make sure that the house is up to code on safety regulations and isn't being sold to you with problems that will cause headaches at best and require thousands of dollars in repairs at worst.

AOL Real Estate has identified some of the most prominent and harmful issues a home may contain, which home inspection contractors can address:

• Cracked foundation: Weaknesses here can threaten the entire house and cost thousands to fix. 
• Drainage: Make sure that the home is outfitted with a proper drainage system, otherwise heavy rains may damage roofs or leak water inside, which is a common source for mold and mildew.
• Mold: A home mold inspection can save you from these toxic spores, which, if left unchecked, can not only ruin the look of your home but lead to serious health problems, like a lung infection or other respiratory diseases.
• Termites: These common wood-eating insects are among a home's worst nightmare, and can wreak havoc on the structural integrity of any building.
• Toxic agents: Asbestos and radon gas are two toxic materials known to be present in houses and can result in some very serious health consequences.

Don't take any chances when buying a home. Individuals in the market for real estate in Maryland should meet with Maryland home inspectors to ensure that their purchase is problem-free and won't be causing any significant stresses to their health or wallet in the future.