How do I read a home inspection report?

Start by looking at the summary section, which lists the most critical findings. Focus on safety hazards first (electrical, structural, water intrusion), then major system issues (roof, HVAC, plumbing), and finally maintenance items. Viorly can analyze your report automatically and prioritize findings for you — just upload the PDF.

What are red flags in a home inspection?

Common red flags include moisture intrusion and water damage (especially in crawl spaces and basements), aging or damaged sewer lines (pre-1970s homes often have clay or Orangeburg pipes), foundation settling or cracks, roof deterioration, outdated electrical panels (like Federal Pacific or Zinsco), and signs of pest damage. Which issues matter most varies by region and climate — Viorly's analysis accounts for both.

How much do home inspection repairs cost?

Repair costs vary widely by issue and by region. Typical national ranges: roof replacement ($8,000–$25,000), sewer line replacement ($5,000–$15,000), foundation repair ($3,000–$15,000), HVAC replacement ($5,000–$12,000), electrical panel upgrade ($1,500–$4,000). Viorly provides cost estimates localized to your home's area when you upload your inspection report.

What is a home inspection report analysis tool?

A home inspection report analysis tool uses AI to read your inspection report PDF and extract the key findings, prioritize them by severity, and estimate repair costs. Viorly is a free analysis tool for home buyers anywhere in the U.S. — it turns your complex inspection report into a clear action plan with local repair costs and vetted contractor recommendations for your area.

Is Viorly free to use?

Yes, Viorly is completely free. You can upload your home inspection report and get a full analysis — including prioritized findings, repair cost estimates, and a maintenance calendar — without creating an account or paying anything.

How do I negotiate repairs after a home inspection?

After receiving your inspection report, identify the most significant issues (safety hazards, major system failures, expensive repairs) and request that the seller either fix them before closing, provide a credit toward closing costs, or reduce the purchase price. Focus on items that are genuine defects rather than cosmetic preferences. Having clear repair cost estimates strengthens your negotiating position.

Why is my outlet dead when the breaker is on?

Check for a tripped GFCI in a bathroom, kitchen or garage first. Next most common is a loose backstab wire at a working outlet upstream.

Can I replace an outlet myself?

If you turn off the breaker, test that it is dead, and the box has one or two cables with copper wire, many people do. Aluminum wiring or more than two cables means call an electrician.

What does a loose outlet mean?

Usually a worn receptacle that no longer grips plugs. Replace it; a loose plug can arc and heat.

What does it cost to fix or replace an electrical outlet?

A dead or loose outlet is one of the cheapest electrician visits there is. Here is what it costs and the few cases where the small job is hiding a bigger one.

Hire a pro

$167 to $417

Typical national range, done by a licensed electrician. Local labor rates move this up or down by a third.

Do it yourself

Not recommended

This is licensed or specialized work. The savings are in choosing the right pro and a fair quote.

Do I need a pro?

Call a pro

A straightforward swap is within reach for a careful homeowner, but a dead outlet is often a symptom: a tripped GFCI elsewhere, a loose backstab connection, or a failed breaker. An electrician finds the cause in minutes, and the trip charge is most of the bill either way. Before calling, check every GFCI in the house for a reset button that has popped.

Why it costs what it costs

Minimum trip charges apply: the first outlet carries the visit, extra outlets in the same visit are cheap.
Finding the fault is the skilled part. A loose connection upstream can kill several outlets at once.

When to stop and call someone

More than one outlet is dead, or outlets on the same wall work intermittently.
Any scorching, buzzing, warmth, or a burning smell.
Two-prong outlets you want grounded: that is a wiring question, not an outlet swap.

What would it cost at your house?

Ranges are national. The advisor knows your home's age, systems and region, and it's free: ask your first question with no account, then sign in free to ask as many as you like.

Ask about your home, free Add your home

Questions people ask

Why is my outlet dead when the breaker is on?: Check for a tripped GFCI in a bathroom, kitchen or garage first. Next most common is a loose backstab wire at a working outlet upstream.
Can I replace an outlet myself?: If you turn off the breaker, test that it is dead, and the box has one or two cables with copper wire, many people do. Aluminum wiring or more than two cables means call an electrician.
What does a loose outlet mean?: Usually a worn receptacle that no longer grips plugs. Replace it; a loose plug can arc and heat.

Related guides

What does an electrical panel upgrade cost? · $1,500 to $4,000
What does it cost to install a GFCI outlet, and can I do it myself? · $167 to $333

Published 2026-10-06. Costs from Viorly's repair cost database; the DIY estimate is parts at retail, the pro range is before local labor differences. Lowest listed price is $167.