How do I read a home inspection report?

Start by looking at the summary section, which lists the most critical findings. Focus on safety hazards first (electrical, structural, water intrusion), then major system issues (roof, HVAC, plumbing), and finally maintenance items. Viorly can analyze your report automatically and prioritize findings for you — just upload the PDF.

What are red flags in a home inspection?

Common red flags include moisture intrusion and water damage (especially in crawl spaces and basements), aging or damaged sewer lines (pre-1970s homes often have clay or Orangeburg pipes), foundation settling or cracks, roof deterioration, outdated electrical panels (like Federal Pacific or Zinsco), and signs of pest damage. Which issues matter most varies by region and climate — Viorly's analysis accounts for both.

How much do home inspection repairs cost?

Repair costs vary widely by issue and by region. Typical national ranges: roof replacement ($8,000–$25,000), sewer line replacement ($5,000–$15,000), foundation repair ($3,000–$15,000), HVAC replacement ($5,000–$12,000), electrical panel upgrade ($1,500–$4,000). Viorly provides cost estimates localized to your home's area when you upload your inspection report.

What is a home inspection report analysis tool?

A home inspection report analysis tool uses AI to read your inspection report PDF and extract the key findings, prioritize them by severity, and estimate repair costs. Viorly is a free analysis tool for home buyers anywhere in the U.S. — it turns your complex inspection report into a clear action plan with local repair costs and vetted contractor recommendations for your area.

Is Viorly free to use?

Yes, Viorly is completely free. You can upload your home inspection report and get a full analysis — including prioritized findings, repair cost estimates, and a maintenance calendar — without creating an account or paying anything.

How do I negotiate repairs after a home inspection?

After receiving your inspection report, identify the most significant issues (safety hazards, major system failures, expensive repairs) and request that the seller either fix them before closing, provide a credit toward closing costs, or reduce the purchase price. Focus on items that are genuine defects rather than cosmetic preferences. Having clear repair cost estimates strengthens your negotiating position.

How much should a 45 foot long, 3 foot high retaining wall cost?

At 3 feet high, segmental block with gravel backfill and a drain runs about $40 to $100 per linear foot installed, so $1,800 to $4,500 for 45 feet in most of the country; timber a little less, poured concrete more. Under four feet it usually avoids engineering, which is why many people stop at this height.

A 30 foot wall on the boundary with my neighbor. Who pays?

Whoever benefits, legally, which usually means the owner of the higher ground whose soil the wall holds. In practice shared walls get shared costs by agreement. Put it in writing, and keep the wall under the permit height if you can.

What does a retaining wall cost per foot?

Building a new retaining or boundary wall in block, timber or concrete. Here is the per-foot range, the height where engineering kicks in, and who pays on a shared line.

Call a contractor

Hire a pro

$2,500 to $9,000

typical in the US, before local labor differences

Do it yourself

Not this one

licensed or specialized work

A landscape or masonry contractor for anything over two feet; a handy homeowner can build a low garden wall in interlocking block over a weekend. The number that matters is height: at about four feet (three in some cities) most jurisdictions require a permit and an engineer's design, and the cost per foot roughly doubles because of footing, reinforcement and drainage. Every retaining wall needs gravel backfill and a drain behind it; a quote without those is a wall that will lean in five years.

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Why it costs what it costs

Height and length: priced per linear foot at a given height. At 3 to 4 feet, timber runs about $20 to $60 a foot, segmental block $40 to $100, poured concrete $60 to $150, before engineering. Above 4 feet the per-foot price roughly doubles.
Soil and drainage: clay soil, a slope above the wall or a wet site means more excavation, more gravel and a longer drain run.
Access and demolition: removing a failed wall first, or hauling material by hand where a machine cannot reach, is often a third of the labor.

When to stop and call someone

The wall will hold back more than two feet of soil or sit below a driveway, a structure or a neighbor's yard.
An existing wall is leaning, bulging or sliding: that is a failed drain or footing, and the repair is usually a rebuild.
The wall sits on a shared property line. Get a survey and a written agreement before a shovel goes in.

Questions people ask

How much should a 45 foot long, 3 foot high retaining wall cost?: At 3 feet high, segmental block with gravel backfill and a drain runs about $40 to $100 per linear foot installed, so $1,800 to $4,500 for 45 feet in most of the country; timber a little less, poured concrete more. Under four feet it usually avoids engineering, which is why many people stop at this height.
A 30 foot wall on the boundary with my neighbor. Who pays?: Whoever benefits, legally, which usually means the owner of the higher ground whose soil the wall holds. In practice shared walls get shared costs by agreement. Put it in writing, and keep the wall under the permit height if you can.
Block, timber or concrete?: Interlocking concrete block is the default: no mortar, drains well, 50 year life. Pressure-treated timber is cheapest and lasts 15 to 20 years. Poured concrete is for tall walls or where an engineer specifies it.

What would it cost at your house?

Ranges above are national. Ask about your own home, or paste the quote you were given and we check it against the range. Free, no account for the first question.

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Published 2026-10-29. Source: Viorly's repair cost database, the same numbers behind its inspection report analysis and advisor. The DIY figure is parts at retail; the pro range is before local labor differences. Lowest listed price is $2,500.