Home inspections: what a good one covers and how to use the report
Doorvia Guides · August 5, 2026
An inspection is a visual assessment of condition and expected remaining life - not a guarantee or a code inspection.
A home inspector visually assesses the roof, structure, exterior, foundation, drainage, plumbing, electrical, heating, cooling, insulation and interior finishes, then reports on condition and likely remaining life. They do not open walls, and they are not certifying compliance with building code.
Attend the inspection if you can. What the inspector says out loud is often more useful than the written report, because you can ask what is urgent, what is routine and what is expensive.
Use the report to build a budget, not only to negotiate. Knowing that a roof has five years left and a furnace has two changes what you should set aside in your first years of ownership.
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