Hindsight insight If they had only known ...

First-time home buyers can't test drive a house as they would a car, but they can learn from the trips of others. via St. Louis Post-Dispatch

[Jackie_D]

One thing that can be done, is try asking the sellers for a lease option, which allows you to rent the property for a year and try to negotiate to get all or most of your down payment and rent applied to the purchase price of the home. This allows you a sort-of "test drive" for a year. Also, when you negotiate an offer for a home, always ask for a Homeowner's Warranty which warrants the house for a year from major defects and it only costs the seller approximately $500 bucks at closing!

[Homer Simpson]

and it also helps if you have an experienced agent working for you.a good agent will point out shortfalls in the property.