What Home Inspectors Look For During a House Inspection
Published by Cash Flow Deals · Last updated 2026-08-05 · Published and reviewed for compliance by Camilo Palacio, a Florida Licensed Realtor
A standard home inspection is a visual, non-invasive look at your house's major systems: structure and foundation, roof, exterior, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, attic, insulation, and interior components. It typically does not include mold testing, pest inspection, or sewer scoping; those are separate specialist services buyers add on request. With us, you choose between the Fast Cash Offer, where we buy your house as-is and close, and the Premium Cash Offer, where a pre-approved FHA or conventional buyer we already have, ready to go, pays more and buys directly from you.
| Factor | Traditional Route | Cash Flow Deals |
|---|---|---|
| Inspection Contingency | Buyer can request repairs, credits, or cancel the contract based on findings | No mortgage lender's inspection contingency standing between contract and closing |
| Repair Negotiation | Common back-and-forth after the report, can restart price discussions | Condition is priced in before any inspection happens, not renegotiated after |
| Risk of Deal Falling Through | A serious finding, foundation, roof, electrical, can kill the deal entirely | Structural issues get evaluated and priced, not used as a last-minute exit |
The Standard Inspection Scope
Home inspection standards of practice, like the ones published by InterNACHI and ASHI, define a general inspection as a visual, non-invasive review of readily accessible systems and components. The inspector isn't opening walls or moving furniture, they're evaluating what's visible and reachable.
Structural and Exterior
Foundation cracks, grading and drainage away from the house, siding condition, and roof condition all get checked, usually from the ground or a ladder rather than by walking the roof itself.
Systems: Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC
The inspector tests outlets and the panel for obvious issues, runs water at fixtures to check for leaks and drainage, and checks that HVAC equipment turns on and responds to the thermostat. This is a functional check, not a full diagnostic teardown.
What's Not Included
Mold testing, wood-destroying insect inspection, radon testing, pool equipment, and sewer line scoping are typically excluded from a general inspection unless specifically added as a separate service.
What Happens After the Inspection Report
The buyer reviews the findings and can request repairs, a credit, or in some cases walk away, depending on how the contract's inspection contingency is written.
Selling With Inspection Risk
Every financed sale carries the risk that a serious inspection finding reopens the price conversation or ends the sale. With your Fast Cash Offer and Premium Cash Offer, the number is agreed before any work starts, and it changes only if you agree. The one exception: if something structural surfaces that was not visible or disclosed before we signed — foundation issues, hidden moisture, old wiring, cast-iron drain failure — we re-cost it and bring the number back to you. You decide. You can walk away. We disclose what we know at offer time so this almost never happens. We cover repair costs, and we figure out a way, so nothing comes out of your pocket. On Premium, only what your buyer's lender requires gets fixed, with costs covered up front and settled from our share of the sale proceeds. On Fast Cash, we buy your house as-is, with no repairs for you to make. If your Premium buyer's loan falls through, that is our problem, not yours, and you can still take the Fast Cash Offer at its own number.
Common questions
Do home inspectors check the roof?
Yes, typically from the ground or a ladder rather than by walking on it, unless conditions make that unsafe.
Do inspectors test for mold or pests?
A general home inspection usually doesn't include mold testing or a wood-destroying-organism inspection, those are separate specialist services.
How long does a home inspection take?
Typically two to four hours, depending on the size and age of the house, per ASHI guidance.
Is a home inspection required to sell?
It's not legally required, but a financed buyer will almost always request one as part of their loan process.
Keep reading
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- How a Wind Mitigation Inspection Cuts Manatee Insurance Costs ›
- Habitat Inspection Nets Orange County Woman a Free New Roof ›
- A Free Roof, One Inspection, and What Osceola Sellers Should Know ›
- Home Inspection Could Save Polk County Sellers Thousands ›
What this means for your options
Every path to selling a house has real tradeoffs.
Wait and see
Keep the property as-is and hope conditions improve. The mortgage, insurance, and upkeep keep costing money while you wait, with no set date for things to turn around.
List with a traditional agent
Standard MLS listing, typically 5-6% in commission, and a financed buyer whose deal depends on appraisal, inspection, and lender approval — any of which can fall through after weeks on market.
Sell to Cash Flow Deals
Two offers for your house, Fast Cash or Premium Cash, and you choose. Cash: Cash Flow Deals buys the house as-is and closes. Premium: More money. A pre-approved FHA or conventional buyer we already have buys directly from you.
See your selling options before you decide anything.