HSHomeScope GuidePlan my project

After the inspection

A long report is not
a long emergency.

Item count is a poor measure of property risk. Prioritize by safety, active damage, uncertainty, time sensitivity, likely cost, and whether a specialist must answer the question before your purchase decision.

Open the priority matrix ↓Return to the inspection-day hub →

Decision matrix

Sort each material finding
into one honest lane.

01Act or clarify now

Safety / active hazard

Fire, shock, combustion, instability, sewage, unsafe access, or another condition posing immediate harm.

Next: inspector clarification + qualified specialist
02Prevent worsening

Water / structure

Active intrusion, drainage failure, rot, foundation movement, roof leakage, or concealed-condition risk.

Next: diagnose source before pricing finishes
03Understand capital exposure

Major system

Roof, sewer, septic, well, electrical service, HVAC, plumbing, or another expensive system near failure.

Next: specialist scope + remaining-life context
04Plan the first year

Maintenance / monitor

Working components with wear, deferred service, small defects, or conditions to track.

Next: calendar, budget, baseline photograph
05Do not inflate risk

Cosmetic / preference

Appearance, finishes, or optional upgrades that do not materially affect safety or operation.

Next: separate from purchase-critical repairs

Five-pass review

Read the report
like a decision document.

  1. 01
    Mark uncertainty first

    Highlight every item that says inaccessible, not operated, further evaluation, monitor, apparent, possible, or unable to determine. Unknowns can be more decision-relevant than minor confirmed defects.

  2. 02
    Group by consequence

    Put safety, active water, structural movement, sewage, combustion, and major system failure ahead of appearance and routine maintenance.

  3. 03
    Ask for location and evidence

    Tie each material finding to a room, component, photograph, test result, observed condition, and the inspector’s recommended next professional.

  4. 04
    Get diagnosis before repair pricing

    A contractor quote based on a vague sentence may price a different problem. Ask a qualified specialist to define cause, urgency, options, and the work boundary.

  5. 05
    Compare complete scopes

    For large repairs, give bidders the same description and compare materials, quantities, access, protection, disposal, permits, allowances, exclusions, warranty, and closeout.

Copyable repair brief

Replace “fix issue” with a scope bidders can understand.

At [property and exact location], the inspection report dated [date] observed [condition and evidence]. Please evaluate [specific system or component], state the likely cause and urgency, and provide a written option that identifies included work, materials, quantities, access, protection, disposal, permits or inspections, exclusions, warranty, schedule, and conditions that could change the price.

Do not ask a contractor to certify conditions outside their qualification. For structural, environmental, health, or complex system questions, obtain the appropriate professional evaluation first.

1Build the shared scopeGive every bidder the same repair starting point →2Reserve for uncertaintyModel concealed-condition risk explicitly →3Check official permit sourcesOnly once the repair scope is known →4Normalize written bidsCompare scope and exclusions before totals →
Still preparing for inspection?

Use the full Michigan buyer checklist.

Confirm scope, specialty checks, inspection-day notes, and follow-up questions in one printable record.

Open the inspection hub →