Free PDF guide
How to Read an Inspection Report Without Missing What Matters
Which of the 40–80 pages are deal conditions, negotiating points, or nothing at all, before you respond.
What's inside
- ✓The five categories worth your attention out of a 40–80 page report — safety, end-of-life systems, water intrusion, structural findings, unpermitted work
- ✓A four-bucket negotiation framework — non-negotiable, legitimate, minor, and future — so your request doesn't dilute itself
- ✓A systems-lifespan and replacement-cost table, from a $900 water heater to a $30,000 roof
3 key takeaways
Is the inspection report a pass/fail document?
No — it's a prioritized list of future bills. Most buyers don't read it that way, and they pay for it later.
What's the single most important number in any inspection?
$500–$1,500 — what a structural engineer costs to tell you whether a foundation crack is cosmetic or catastrophic. A home inspector can't make that call.
What findings should never make it into your negotiation request?
Minor maintenance and cosmetic items. Including them dilutes your position on the safety hazards and major system failures actually worth fighting for.
Other free HomeMath downloads
Electrical & Plumbing Red Flag Guide
What panel type, wiring era, and pipe material actually cost to fix — before you're the one who owns them.
Get it →
Attic Inspection Checklist: What $1,500–$10,000 Looks Like
What ventilation, insulation, and roof-deck staining actually cost to fix, before you're the one who owns them.
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Basement & Foundation Red Flag Guide: What $500 Buys You
What a structural engineer costs to tell you if a crack is cosmetic or a $30,000 problem, before you sign.
Get it →