The 15 Major Issues Found In Home Inspections

How This List Was Built

Frequency = share of inspection reports where the issue appears. Severity = median midpoint repair cost. The ranking multiplies the two. Costs reflect 2026 contractor pricing across the contiguous U.S.; expect 15–25% premiums in CA, NY, MA, and metro areas with high labor cost.

Tier 1 — Findings In More Than Half Of Reports

Tier 2 — Major Findings In 20–40% Of Reports

Tier 3 — Less Common, But Expensive When Found

What 'Major' Actually Means For Your Offer

A 'major' finding doesn't automatically mean walking away. The decision framework that produces the best outcomes weighs three things: the cost of the finding relative to the home's price (over 1.5% of price = renegotiate hard), whether comparable homes in the market have the same issue (a common regional defect carries less leverage), and your own cash reserve (if the post-close repair empties your emergency fund, the deal is structurally wrong).

Convert The List Into Your Personal Forecast

The 15 issues above are population averages. Your specific home will have a different mix. Upload your inspection report to the Inspection Analyzer to see which of these issues actually appear, their cost band on your property, and how they should be sequenced across years 1–5 of ownership.