You just received your Atlanta home inspection report and it is 40 pages long! Is this a deal breaker? It could be, but many of the items are fluff (text that goes into every report the inspector puts out) and some of the items are maintenance items that are just part of home ownership. What items should you worry about? Generally speaking, anything that is listed as safety issue, structural issue, water intrusion issue, pest issue, mechanical issue (electric, plumbing, HVAC) or the items in the inspectors summary.
Safety Issues - You will want to have all electrical and fire safety issues repaired. Use common sense on other items.
Structural Issues - If the foundation and the framing are not right then everything else is wrong.
Mechanical Issues - These systems need to be in working order for the house to function safely and efficiently. These are also going to be some of the more expensive items to repair.
Water Intrusion - Water entering the house must be stopped. Roof leaks need to be repaired and if the roof is old you may want to factor in the replacement costs. Gutters need to be clean and the water they collect must be diverted away from the foundation. Water entering the crawlspace or basement must be stopped (especially if the basement is finished or is going to be finished). Poured concrete walls that have received the proper water proofing and footer drains usually perform quite well. Block foundations will almost always leak unless a perimeter drainage system has been properly retrofitted.
Pest Issues - Rodents must be stopped. If there is a hole in the house bigger than a nickel they can get in. They chew on wires and cause fires. If there is a lot of animal waste in the attic insulation it should be removed and replaced. A termite inspection is also a must.
Inspectors Summary- These are the items that the inspector feels are important enough to mention again.