I've seen it used as a lever for winning a competitive deal. Offer to cover closing costs to put yourself over the top. Or if there is something you really want that the seller is resistant to, then use closing costs as a way to get a concession.

I agree with Caleb about hiring a traditional home inspector. But in my experience they catch 75%-85% of the stuff that is an issue. I have also had them miss things completely or simply say “oh I wasn’t able to look at that.” Think about what may be working now but could cause issues later. For example, uninsulated copper pipes in an unconditioned crawl space in cold climate … I wish I had caught that before needing an emergency plumbing repair. Big items are foundation, any brick that needs repointing, apparent water damage anywhere (ceilings, windows), yard drainage (water pooling close to the house in particular), age and condition of the roof, water heater, appliances, and HVAC system. When I walk into a house I immediately go to the electrical panel. If it is a rats nest inside then that usually suggests there is *something* else that needs to be found.