Also consider many contractor live pay check to pay check for many reasons, just not great at saving money, high overhead, slow seasons, family of five, whatever, it doesn't mean they are a bad contractor or a thief.

So, it's about not giving opportunity:Have a car alarm and don't leave things inside, that can be seen from the outside. lock your front porch furniture with an eyering a chain and a lock.

Two things someone can do that should send alarms going off in your head is to pay all cash and skip an appraisal, and to not get an inspection report.

@James Schass, a good alarm system is a good investment, but most people rarely buy one.

Also there is much higher chances of a lead lawsuit though I'm unfamiliar with Detroits rules unless your property was built post 1977.Lastly get an alarm system. 

The inspection covers lots of the things you are concerned about: GFCI, circuit breaker panel and not fuses, smoke and CO alarms, sidewalk condition, no roof leaks, no cracked glass in windows, third party heater certification (document provided by HVAC pro), railings to applicable code (grandfathering is OK if code from date of construction was actually met), plumbing operation, grounding of water meter and any other grounding, no reversed wiring in wall receptacles, fire rated drywall where required, third party electrical inspection of any new electric work, etc.Get the full list of what is needed to be compliant up front; if inspections don't pass at first re-inspection, I get to pay for any additional re-inspections in order to get that Certificate if Occupancy.

I'm guessing this is for security reasons, but at some point you have to show the property or give the address to a caller who'd like to drive by and see it Although, I guess doing it that way creates more work for a would-be-thief therby making it less likely to be vandalized.

I am safety conscious, my personal home has always been a fortress, between the exterior lit up all night like a bank, alarm always in use, camera system all over & me armed inside.

Better to keep your water heater and place a water alarm on the floor next to it.  

I talked to a woman this week in Phoenix who has been paying the bills on her mom's house her in D/FW for 2 years after her mom passed and she inherited the home.  2 years of paying for lawn service, pool service, utilities, security alarm, and property taxes... it was THOUSANDS of dollars just because she wasn't ready to do anything.