Which home inspection items should I fix first?
Last updated 12 October 2026
The short answer
Fix hazards first, then anything letting water in or close to failing, then everything else. In a Texas report, an item marked Deficient can be a condition that “constitutes a hazard to life, limb or property” or one that “adversely and materially affects” how a system performs, so the label alone does not set the order. Read each item and sort it.
A simple order
Safety hazards
Electrical problems, gas problems, missing or expired smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and missing GFCI protection near water. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says GFCIs matter most “where electrical equipment is near water” — kitchens, bathrooms, garages, outdoors and laundry areas.
Water
Roof leaks, plumbing leaks and drainage running toward the house. Water damage spreads out of sight, and the sooner it stops, the smaller the repair.
Systems near the end of their life
Heating and cooling, the water heater, the roof. If the report says one is old or failing, start pricing the replacement before it picks the date for you.
Everything else
Minor repairs and cosmetic items can follow your budget.
Get a professional opinion on the big ones
An inspection is visual, so a finding is often the start of a question, not the answer. The Texas form says it is the client's responsibility “to obtain further evaluations and/or cost estimates from qualified service professionals regarding any items reported as Deficient.” For anything expensive, a licensed contractor's evaluation is what turns “possible problem” into a scope and a price.
Sources
- Texas Real Estate Commission — Property Inspection Report form (REI 7-6)
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission — What is a GFCI? (fact sheet)
Each source was read on 12 October 2026. Quotes are the source's own words.