its official. ..I'm scared of the basement

[DJ Cummins]

do you try and avoid homes with basements?  Ive looked at over a dozen properties now, and nearly all of them the basement alone has scared me off.  From walls caving in to rotten support beams to dirt floors/walls.  Pictures posted on line make these places look much better than they actually are and I feel like I am completely wasting my time.  Any tricks of the trade that can help me out???