So, good news, Chris and are (finally) under contract on a home in Independence. It's 105 years old so we're looking for recommendations on a home inspector that has experience with houses of that age. Thanks!
Kate D. replied:
We used Nemastil when we moved to Shaker and he seems to be "the guy" around here. Also, http://www.clevelandrestoration.org/ is a fantastic resource for everything about older homes. Edited to add: if the house was recently renovated I would also research the contractor who did the work, and make sure permits were pulled and inspections were done by the city.