What to Look for in a Home Inspection
Published by Cash Flow Deals · Last updated 2026-08-04 · Published and reviewed for compliance by Camilo Palacio, a Florida Licensed Realtor
A home inspection checks the big-ticket systems that are expensive to fix later: the foundation and structure, the roof, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC. Inspectors also flag water intrusion, pest damage, and rot. Standard inspections skip radon, mold, termites, and sewer lines; those need separate specialists. A typical inspection runs $296 to $424. With Cash Flow Deals, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Who pays for repairs the report finds | Buyer negotiates repairs or credits with the seller after the report comes back | For your Fast Cash Offer or 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. |
| Who orders the inspection | Buyer hires and pays for their own licensed inspector | Same: the buyer, or their lender, still orders an independent inspection |
| Timeline pressure | Inspection period usually runs 7-10 days, with renegotiation risk if issues surface | Same inspection standards apply, but the seller's number was set before the report existed |
The Big Systems Every Inspector Checks
A licensed inspector works through the home system by system. Foundation and structure come first, and inspectors pay close attention to cracks, especially horizontal or stair-step patterns that can point to real structural movement. The roof and exterior get checked for damaged materials, leaks, and signs of rot or pest activity. Plumbing gets tested for water flow and leaks. Electrical gets checked at the outlets, the wiring, and the breaker panel. Heating and cooling systems get run to confirm they actually function.
What a Standard Inspection Does Not Cover
A general home inspection has real limits. Radon testing, mold or air quality sampling, termite and pest inspection, sewer scope, pool or spa inspection, chimney inspection, and broader environmental testing are usually not included in a standard report. Each of those requires its own specialist and its own fee. Buyers in older homes or homes with a pool, septic system, or wood-burning fireplace should ask about these add-ons specifically, since skipping them can mean a real issue goes undetected.
What a Home Inspection Costs
The average home inspection costs about $344, typically falling between $296 and $424, though the fuller range runs from roughly $200 up to $800 or more for larger or luxury homes. Size matters most: homes under 1,000 square feet average around $242, while homes over 3,500 square feet often run $400 to $500 or more. Some inspectors charge per square foot, others use a flat base fee plus an add-on rate past a certain size.
How to Read the Report Without Panicking
Most inspection reports list dozens of items, and that's normal, not a warning sign on its own. The skill is separating safety and structural issues from routine maintenance notes. A cracked GFCI outlet or a missing handrail is a quick fix. Active roof leaks, foundation movement, or knob-and-tube wiring are a different category entirely. Reading the report by severity, not by length, is what actually matters.
What Happens After the Report
In a traditional financed sale, the inspection report often opens a new round of negotiation: repair requests, price credits, or a buyer walking away if the contract allows it. With Cash Flow Deals, you choose between the Fast Cash Offer and the Premium Cash Offer. With Fast Cash, we buy your house as-is and close, with no repairs for you to make. With Premium, a pre-approved FHA or conventional buyer we already have, ready to go, pays more and buys directly from you; their lender funds the purchase, and a normal inspection still happens. We cover repair costs, and we figure out a way, so nothing comes out of your pocket. On Premium, only what the buyer's lender requires gets fixed, with repair costs settled from the sale proceeds out of our share. For either 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. If the 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
What's the biggest red flag in a home inspection?
Structural movement in the foundation and active water intrusion top the list. Both point to problems that get more expensive the longer they sit, unlike cosmetic issues.
Does a home inspection include radon or mold testing?
No. Standard inspections typically exclude radon, mold, termites, sewer scope, and pool inspections. Those require separate specialists and separate fees.
How much does a home inspection cost?
The national average is about $344, usually falling between $296 and $424, with larger homes and certain regions running higher.
Can a bad home inspection kill a sale?
Not usually on its own. Most items are minor. Structural or safety findings, or a buyer's financing falling through because of them, are what actually end deals.
Who picks the home inspector?
The buyer typically hires and pays for their own independent inspector, separate from either agent involved in the sale.
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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.