Analysis of more than 50,000 home inspection reports reveals thousands of dollars in identified repair costs during the home purchasing process.
The study found more than 1 million repairs were needed across 50,000 homes, while the average home required more than $11,000 in repairs. Key findings include:
-
More than half of houses studied contained doors that needed adjusting, a strong indicator of foundation issues.
-
More than half of houses studied lacked exterior caulking and sealant, leaving them highly susceptible to extensive water damage.
-
About 48 percent of homes lacked GFCI protection, leaving homeowners susceptible to electrocution, especially in water-prone areas like kitchens or bathrooms.
-
The five most expensive home defects—ranging from slightly more than $1,000 to just less than $10,000
in repair cost—were identified in 9 to 20 percent of homes studied.