Things You’ll Want to Consider Fixing (Or Asking the Seller to Fix)
There’s a moment that happens during almost every inspection, usually somewhere between the attic and the electrical panel, when a buyer’s posture changes. The shoulders tighten. The questions come faster. The report, they’ve decided, is about to tell them whether they should run. It isn’t. What it’s actually doing is something far more mundane: sorting the fixable from the urgent, and the urgent from the merely annoying.
Most of the deficiencies a home inspector recommends remediating fall into a few predictable categories. None of them are exotic. None of them are secret warnings written in code. They are, by and large, the kinds of things that happen to houses that have been lived in.
Safety Issues That Are Straightforward to Address
When inspectors recommend remediation, safety is usually at the top of the list. These are conditions that pose a reasonable risk to occupants if left uncorrected, but they’re rarely dramatic. Missing handrails. Loose stair treads. Exposed wiring where someone could touch it. A furnace flue that isn’t properly secured.
These items tend to sound scarier on paper than they are in practice. They are often simple corrections, well understood by contractors, and relatively inexpensive to resolve. The recommendation isn’t panic; it’s prudence.
Water Where It Doesn’t Belong
Moisture is persistent, patient, and deeply unimpressed by optimism. Inspectors pay attention to it because small water issues become large ones when ignored. The good news is that most of what gets flagged is minor and manageable.
This might include deteriorated caulking around a tub, a gutter that spills water against the foundation, or a downspout that stops six inches short of being useful. These are not signs of impending collapse. They’re reminders that water needs direction, and houses don’t give it for free.
Deferred Maintenance
Homes age whether we keep up with them or not. Deferred maintenance shows up when routine tasks are skipped long enough to become noticeable. Peeling paint. Worn weatherstripping. A loose exterior trim board that’s been loose for years.
Inspectors recommend remediation here not because the house is failing, but because neglect compounds. Addressing these items early is usually cheaper, easier, and far less disruptive than waiting until they force the issue.
Systems That Are Functional but Tired
Many recommendations fall into the gray area between “broken” and “brand new.” An older water heater nearing the end of its expected life. An HVAC system that still runs, but not especially efficiently. Electrical components that work but reflect outdated practices.
These are not demands for immediate replacement. They are context. They help buyers plan, budget, and understand what ownership is likely to look like over the next few years.
Why These Recommendations Matter
A home inspection isn’t a list of reasons to walk away. It’s a tool for informed decision-making. The deficiencies most often recommended for remediation are ordinary, solvable, and familiar to anyone who works on houses for a living.
The goal isn’t to scare you. It’s to replace uncertainty with information. Houses aren’t perfect. They don’t need to be. They just need to be understood.