Don’t Panic: Your Inspection Report Is Supposed to Be This Long
Buyers, this one is for you. At some point you’ll open your home inspection report, see dozens of items and a pile of photos, and think the house is falling apart. Take a breath. Almost every house comes back with a long list, including brand-new ones.
The report is long on purpose. I note everything I see, big and small, so nothing surprises you later. That doesn’t mean every item is a crisis. Here’s how I’d sort it.
The big stuff. Anything involving water, the roof, the foundation or structure, electrical safety, and heating and cooling that’s near the end of its life. This is where the real money and the real worry live. If I recommend a specialist, listen to me and get them out there.
The “fix it soon” stuff. Things that aren’t emergencies but shouldn’t sit for years, like worn caulking, a clogged gutter, or an aging water heater. These are good for planning and budgeting.
The everyday stuff. A loose toilet, a missing smoke alarm, a dirty furnace filter, a sticky door. Most of this is cheap, quick, and a Saturday at the hardware store. It’s not a reason to walk away from a house you love.
A few tips:
Read the summary first. It highlights what matters most.
Don’t nitpick when you negotiate. Ask for help with the big items. A seller who’s asked to fix 40 small things often gets annoyed and fixes none of them.
Get quotes for anything that makes you nervous. A number is less scary than a mystery.
Call me with questions. I’m happy to walk you through it, and I’d rather you ask than lose sleep.
No house is perfect. A good inspection isn’t about finding a flawless one. It’s about knowing exactly what you’re buying.
