Right there is a difference between an inspector who is just making sure the house doesn't break code, and one who's going through everything to assess it for wear, make recommendations for replacement schedules, etc.
If it weren't for our inspector we would not have known the water pump was at the end of its life, for instance. That was a over $1k right off the bat but we were prepared. We have a septic system and had the former owner have it cleaned and a minor repair done on it before we moved it...a repair we would not have known was needed (it wasn't causing problems yet).
Other wise, yeah as people have said just stay organized (notes, picture albums by address, etc). It's amazing how fast houses can blur together when they start piling up.
Get pre-qualified for your loan. Don't use it as your cost guideline...crunch your own numbers and decide what you are comfortable spending, which will likely be less than the bank approves, even now. But being pre-qualified helps in negotiations sometimes as it gives the sellers confidence that you aren't just blowing smoke...and can speed up the process.
Keep season of year in mind. If it's a dry time of year, consider water paths during wetter seasons. Even if you aren't in a flood zone, the property could have grading issues that result in long-term swampiness after a rainstorm. And grading can be a pain to fix.
There's probably more but so much varies by regions...the more people you can talk to who've bought/sold in your area of interest the better. And don't be afraid to talk to neighbors! I am *terrible* about this but fortunately hubby is just find with walking up to houses and chatting with people who live around the house of interest. It's amazing what you can learn about the area, the house's history, and other relevant quirks.
