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, and sellers working with Cash Flow Deals get their net price locked before that report even exists.
| 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 | Net price is already locked before repairs are scoped, so findings don't reopen the number |
| 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. Cash Flow Deals works from the other direction. It still connects the seller with a real FHA or conventional buyer whose own lender funds the purchase, and a normal inspection still happens, but the seller's net price is locked before that report is written, not after.
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. Cash Flow Deals is built for the middle: faster than a traditional listing, more money than a cash investor.
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
No repairs, no showings, no financing contingency on your side — our novation structure connects you with a bank-financed buyer at a price locked at signing. Usually within one business day.
See your selling options before you decide anything.