Are you worried about an upcoming home inspection? While a home inspection can be stressful, it doesn’t have to be.

We created a great list of the most common things that can fail a home inspection. The funny thing is, a home inspection is not pass or fail. Really, the inspection is only to build a report based on a professional’s opinion. However, some items on a home inspection could fail insurance inspections or certain mortgage requirements. Therefore, for this article, while we are talking about items that could fail your home inspection, the inspection does not necessarily pass or fail.

If you are selling the home that is being inspected, try looking for these items in your own home and repairing them before the inspection. If you are buying a home ordered a home inspection, these are major items that could come up.

What Is A Home Inspection?

Before we get into it, we first need to define a home inspection.

A home inspection is an independent evaluation of a property and its structure. Typically, this is requested during a real estate transaction, but not always.

Homebuyers hire licensed home inspectors to evaluate the property’s condition, report on the general condition, and recommend specialized contractors where needed.

Top 10 Things That Fail A Home Inspection

Listen to the Podcast

1. The Roof

The roof is one of the largest deal breakers of any home inspection. It is also one of the most expensive to repair.

Most home inspectors will be looking for at least 3-5 years of life left on the roof. If you are not familiar with roof lifespans, we have an article on that.

In addition, home inspectors are looking for unprofessional repairs, signs of leaks, damage, and signs of excessive wear.

2. HVAC Issues

For #2 on our list, we have HVAC issues. While HVAC systems are not as expensive as roofs, they are more common and they are still expensive fixes.

What Is HVAC?

HVAC systems can be well over $5,000 to replace depending on the size of the unit and type.

During the home inspection, home inspectors test how well the A/C is cooling and they look for a temperature differential between 14 and 24 degrees (that is the difference in temperature of the air going into the unit versus the air coming out).

In addition, home inspectors test the heat, check for condensation line leaks, mold, ductwork damage, and other general issues.

3. Electrical Issues

Today’s electrical standards are much higher than they were 30 years ago, go figure. Because of updates to electrical requirements and outdated panels, issues can easily occur to older electrical systems.

Electrical concerns are another top concern on home inspection reports, mortgage lender requirements, and even for insurance.

The most common electrical issues are outdated panels, fuse boxes,