Home inspection
A trained inspector's review of the home's condition. They check the roof, foundation, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and major systems, and produce a written report. Not the same as an appraisal.
Every term like this one lights up in the step you're on.
Free to set up. No credit card.Part 1 of 4
Why a seller cares
Nearly every report finds something, and the list becomes a negotiation. Knowing that in advance is most of the calm: the question is never whether there is a list, only what you do about it.
Part 2 of 4
A simple example
The report lists a slow drain, a missing GFCI outlet and a furnace near the end of its life. The buyer asks for the furnace; you offer a $2,500 credit instead of a replacement.
| What the report found | What commonly happens |
|---|---|
| A slow drain and a missing GFCI | Small items; often fixed by the seller or ignored by the buyer |
| A furnace near the end of its life | A credit, a repair, or a price cut, negotiated |
| A foundation crack | A structural engineer, and sometimes a buyer who walks |
The inspection produces a list. What happens next is a negotiation over the list, not a verdict on the house.
Part 3 of 4
What people get wrong
That a clean inspection exists. Every home has a list, and a buyer who expects one negotiates calmly.
Part 4 of 4 · where to read next
Where it appears in the sale
What a definition is, and what it isn't
Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.
Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish
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