Q: We have signed a contract to buy a house, and the home inspector will come out next week. Should we ask to join him while he reviews the property, or should we just stay away so he can work alone?

A: Home buyers always should ask to accompany their inspector, because the inspection provides a great opportunity to learn more about the property they plan to purchase.

Buyers who “tag along” with their inspector often become alerted to problems that should be remedied before the sale closes. A good inspector also may provide some maintenance tips that could help the buyers after they move in.

Perhaps most importantly, joining the inspector will allow you to see the home through the eyes of an objective third party. Too many buyers “fall in love” with a home and overlook its shortcomings. The best inspectors don’t share such emotions, so that they can provide an honest opinion about the property – warts and all.

Q: My wife had a serious stroke last summer and also broke her hip, so we have since made several changes to our home to accommodate her health problems. We widened the hallways for her new wheelchair, added wheelchair ramps to the front and back porch, and installed grab-bars and other smaller items all around the house. Can we deduct the remodeling expenses on the tax return we are completing now?

A: The Internal Revenue Service’s rules concerning medical-related changes to a home are complicated. The IRS will let you take an immediate deduction for changes needed to accommodate your wife’s physical condition, but only if the changes don’t increase the value of the property.

IRS rules clearly state that the cost of adding wheelchair ramps, support bars, and even widening doorways and hallways can be deducted in full as a medical expense. However, certain other types of changes you may have made – like upgrading the flooring to make it easier to move about in a wheelchair or installing an elevator to get upstairs – might add to the home’s value and therefore cannot be deducted.

Let’s say that the remodeling job cost $30,000, but you estimate (perhaps with the help of a real estate agent) that the improvements added only $10,000 to the home’s value. You’d be left with $20,000 in remodeling costs that could be added to any other unreimbursed medical expenses, and then deduct the amount that exceeds 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income.

You will obviously need to consult a tax professional for details. Also, get a free copy of IRS Publication No. 502, “Medical and Dental Expenses,” by contacting the agency at (800) 829-3676 or by downloading the document at www.irs.gov.