On the day of the home inspection, the client was staring at small cracks, but I was more afraid of water stains that couldn't be seen.

After following a few home inspections, my biggest takeaway is that buyers are easily distracted by superficial things. A thin crack on the wall, a slightly crooked cabinet door, or old carpet—these should certainly be looked at, but many of the real trouble spots aren't in the most obvious places. Are there old water stains under the sink? How is the attic ventilation? Is there a musty smell in…