Start with the summary
Most modern Calgary reports lead with a categorized summary — safety, major repair, deferred maintenance, monitor, informational. The summary is your map. If your report doesn't categorize findings, ask the inspector to walk you through them by priority.
Read safety and major-repair items first
These are the items that affect your buying decision. Safety items must be addressed regardless. Major-repair items either get negotiated or budgeted. Read each in full, look at the photos, and note any items where you'll want a written quote before condition removal.
Then deferred maintenance and monitor
These are your 1–5 year homeowner budget. They don't necessarily affect the offer but they affect your cash flow as a new owner. A roof at 18 of 25 years is a known capital event in your near future.
Three questions for every major item
What does it cost to address? What is the urgency — now, this year, this decade? What happens if I do nothing? A construction-informed inspector frames these answers in the report or on the walkthrough.
What to ignore (mostly)
Cosmetic findings, informational notes, and items flagged as nearing end of life but still functioning. They belong in the report for completeness but rarely change a deal. Using them aggressively in negotiation can lose you the home.
