If you are buying a home built in the 1960s or 1970s, make sure the home inspector you have chosen will do an inspection for aluminum wiring. Its important. Here's why.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has concluded that a house wired with aluminum wiring is 55 times more likely to have wiring connections reach the level of a fire hazard than a home wired with copper. So its important that your home inspector is qualified to open the electric panel in the house and that he or she will look at the wire at circuit breakers in the panel for aluminum wire. But that's not all the inspector should look at. There may be copper wire in the panel, but aluminum used at other parts of the house. For more information go to the Aluminum Wiring Information Web Site.

Not all home inspectors are equal. Some are much more knowledgeable and have more experience in making inspections. Since a good home inspection can save you thousands of dollars, its always best to interview several before choosing which one will work for you.