Here's something that I'm not sure too many homebuyers know about as they are putting the finishing touches on their house hunt.

When you make an offer on a home it's possible to have the seller contract a termite/pest inspection service.  As you can probably deduce this could be a life saver in the long run.  These services check for insect 'wear and tear' but also look for water damage and other problems as well. 

As with any kind of service, you'll want to work with a reputable company so that you know they'll do a good quality job.  Obviously if you have a friend or neighbor that has worked with a company and has had good results, that's a good place to start.  If not, a good agent will know where to look as well.