The Investor's Guide to Property Inspections

What to look for beyond the standard home inspection when evaluating a flip candidate.

A standard home inspection covers the visible, accessible components of a property. For flip investors, you need to go deeper — focusing on the issues that will blow up your renovation budget.

Foundation: Look for cracks wider than 1/4 inch, bowing walls, uneven floors, and sticking doors. Foundation repairs can cost $5,000-30,000 and delay your timeline significantly.

Roof: Age, condition of shingles/tiles, evidence of leaks in the attic, gutter condition, and flashing around penetrations. A full roof replacement runs $8,000-15,000 and is often non-negotiable.

Electrical: Panel capacity (100 amp minimum for modern homes), wiring type (copper vs. aluminum vs. knob-and-tube), and grounding status. Rewiring a house costs $8,000-15,000.

Plumbing: Pipe material (galvanized steel and polybutylene are red flags), water pressure, water heater age, and sewer condition. A sewer scope camera inspection costs $200 and can prevent a $15,000 surprise.

HVAC: System age, efficiency rating, ductwork condition, and evidence of proper maintenance. Replacement costs $5,000-12,000.

Environmental: Lead paint (pre-1978 homes), asbestos (common in older insulation and flooring), mold, and radon. Remediation costs vary wildly but can easily add five figures to your budget.