Personally, I would advise you to hire a Realtor as a Buyer Agent representing you in the offer. If it’s just to protect your interests for that specific property, you can probably pay them 1% of the Contract Price...and get the seller to pay it by including it in any monetary concessions you ask for.
If you’re not willing to do that and insist on acting on your own behalf....
1) Ask a top-known real estate agent in the area who he or she would recommend you hire as a professional home inspector.
2) Find out what the comparable sold prices have been in the subdivision or neighborhood or immediate area for like size homes with the same GLA (Gross Living Area) above grade.
3)Make any written offer subject to a satisfactory home inspection to be conducted within 10 business days from the date of ratification by the parties...with satisfactory meaning at your sole discretion.
4) Make the offer subject to you being able to procure a firm written commitment for financing withing 30 days, so that if something negative happens, you don’t lose your earnest money deposit. Make sure a 3rd party holds that deposit and not the Seller.
If you need any other advice, you can Freepmail me.
30 years experience here.
One resource that I would add as a recommendation is to check out the Motley Fool Home & Real Estate Page available in the Personal Finance section of http://www.fool.com. There is a wealth of information available there to help you make good financial decisions.