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sewer lines (pre-1970s homes often have clay or Orangeburg pipes), foundation settling or cracks, roof deterioration, outdated electrical panels (like Federal Pacific or Zinsco), and signs of pest damage.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 to replace a tub and shower surround?

$1,200 to $4,500 installed for an acrylic or fiberglass surround on an existing tub, most of that labor. A tiled surround is $4,000 to $10,000 and a different trade.

Can I just put new panels over the old ones?

Some kits are sold for that, and it saves the tear-out. It also hides whatever is behind the old wall. Fine for a rental or a quick sale; for a home you will live in, strip it and look.

How long does the job take?

One to two days, plus 24 hours for the caulk and adhesive to cure before the first shower.

What does it cost to replace a tub and shower surround?

Swapping the old wall panels around a tub or shower for a new acrylic or fiberglass surround. Here is the range, what tile adds, and how to read a quote.

Call a contractor

Hire a pro

$1,200 to $4,500

typical in the US, before local labor differences

Do it yourself

Not this one

licensed or specialized work

A surround swap is a two-day job for a bathroom remodeler or an experienced handyman: strip the old panels, fix the wall behind them (where the surprises live), set and seal the new surround, trim and caulk. The tub stays. It is not licensed work unless the plumbing moves, so the savings are in getting three quotes and in choosing a stock surround over a custom one, not in doing it yourself.

Find me a contractor Check my quote

Free, no account for the first question. The advisor knows your home's age, systems and region.

Why it costs what it costs

The surround itself: a three-piece stock acrylic kit runs $300 to $900; a one-piece or a premium brand $1,000 to $2,500; tile is a different job at $4,000 and up.
What is behind the old panels: water-damaged drywall or rotten studs are found on most tear-outs and add a few hundred dollars in repair before the new panels go on.
Fixtures: reusing the valve and spout keeps the price down. A new valve means a plumber and opens the wall further.

When to stop and call someone

Soft spots or movement in the existing wall, which means the substrate behind it has failed and needs rebuilding.
You want to move the showerhead or valve, or convert the tub to a walk-in shower: that is a remodel, not a surround.
Mold that comes back after cleaning, which points to a leak behind the panels.

Questions people ask

How much to replace a tub and shower surround?: $1,200 to $4,500 installed for an acrylic or fiberglass surround on an existing tub, most of that labor. A tiled surround is $4,000 to $10,000 and a different trade.
Can I just put new panels over the old ones?: Some kits are sold for that, and it saves the tear-out. It also hides whatever is behind the old wall. Fine for a rental or a quick sale; for a home you will live in, strip it and look.
How long does the job take?: One to two days, plus 24 hours for the caulk and adhesive to cure before the first shower.

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.

Get a number for my house Paste my quote, check it

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 $1,200.