You may be tempted to forego a home inspection if you’re buying in a competitive market, especially when multiple offers are a possibility. But before you make a decision on whether to include a home inspection in your contractual offer, be aware that different seasons and weather conditions tell different stories about a home’s condition. While some shortcomings of a home will not be as evident under snow coverage, winter also presents an opportunity to see other things that snow can teach us about the condition of a house. For example, a snow-covered roof may hide the overall state of the shingles and underlay, while large spotty patches of melted snow on a roof and dripping icicles are indicators of insulation deficiency. Likewise, snow piled on the outside of a home can show tell-tale signs about the inside of a home, revealing foundation cracks and basement leakage problems. Every season teaches us something about the condition of a home, but cold weather and snow may prevent a ...