How to Read a Home Inspection Report Without Panicking

Start with the summary page. A good report puts safety issues and expensive repairs there, separate from normal wear.

Safety items come first: missing smoke detectors, an exposed wire, a gas leak. These get fixed before move-in, no matter who pays.

Next are the big-ticket systems: roof, foundation, HVAC and water heater. Note the age of each one, because an old system is a budget item even if it works today.

Everything else, like a loose cabinet hinge or a dripping faucet, is ordinary upkeep. Do not spend your negotiating power on it.