Buyers: Hire personal peeps

As tempting as it is to share the seller's agent to save a couple grand, don't. The same goes for using the other party's inspector and appraiser. They were hired by the seller and have a fiduciary allegiance to the person who's paying them. Don't automatically opt for real estate professionals referred to you by your agent either. A huge capital purchase is not the time for such friendly accommodations. Briefly interview three of each by phone. Make sure your appraiser and your inspector (and perhaps a separate termite inspector) are appropriately state-licensed or state-certified and, ideally, have been practicing for at least five years and have done more than 200 inspections or appraisals. Compare the results of your inspector's findings with the inspection findings of the other party, and you're likely to stumble on disparities or omissions.