First thing after a thorough pre-flight type examination is to go through the log books. Only if they're O.K would I bother with a flight, or the expence of an engineer - who is ESSENTIAL before you make a final offer. I looked at one aircraft, where a recent required check had been omitted. The engineer said it had been done, but not entered in the logbook. I would have accepted if he'd said it had been missed, but after that response walked away.