What happens if a home inspection finds problems?

Not all findings are equal

The first step after receiving an inspection report is understanding what was found and how significant it actually is. Findings generally fall into categories:

• Safety concerns: electrical hazards, compromised structural elements, missing safety devices. These warrant attention regardless of cost.
• Major defects: significant system failures that may be expensive to address: failing roof, aged HVAC, active plumbing leaks, structural movement.
• Items needing specialist evaluation: findings the inspector has flagged for follow-up by a licensed specialist.
• Maintenance items: deferred upkeep common for a home of that age and type.
• Normal wear: age-appropriate conditions that are expected, not alarming.

What options may be available

Depending on the purchase contract, buyers may be able to:

• Accept the property in its current condition and proceed
• Request that the seller address specific items before closing
• Ask for a price reduction or closing-cost credit instead of repairs
• Request access and time for a specialist to follow up on flagged items
• Exercise rights under the inspection contingency if findings are significant enough

What buyers should not assume

Sellers are not automatically required to make repairs based on inspection findings. What a buyer can request and how a seller must respond is determined by the contract. The existence of a finding does not automatically create an obligation.

Understanding your contract's deadlines and provisions is the essential first step. Your agent can help you assess which findings warrant a response and what approach makes sense given the transaction.

For more on the inspection process: [What Happens During a Home Inspection? →](/resources/articles/what-happens-during-a-home-inspection/)