March Madness: Home Inspection Edition 🏀🔍

Which Home Issue Is the Real Deal-Breaker?

It’s that time of year again—March Madness is in full swing! But while basketball fans are debating who’s headed to the Final Four, we’ve got our own bracket showdown going on…

Introducing the March Madness: Home Inspection Edition—where Ohio’s most common home inspection issues go head-to-head to determine the biggest deal-breaker in real estate. 💥

Because let’s face it: In Ohio, home buying season ramps up just as the snow melts and the leaks start showing. Whether you’re repping buyers or prepping sellers, these problems can throw a serious wrench in your deal.

So let’s tip things off…

🏆 The Bracket Breakdown: Home Inspection Headliners

We’ve seeded the Top 8 Common Home Issues found in Ohio homes. Now it’s time to see who survives and who gets benched.

Round 1: Let the Games Begin!

1. Leaky Basement 🆚 Faulty Wiring

• One causes moisture, mold, and buyer panic.

• The other makes inspectors say, “You might want to bring in an electrician… yesterday.”
  💭 Which one sends your buyers running faster?

2. Aging Roof 🆚 HVAC on Its Last Leg

• That roof is holding on like it’s still 2004.

• The HVAC? It’s louder than a blender full of nuts and bolts.
  💭 Which makes buyers sweat more?

3. DIY Plumbing Disasters 🆚 Mysterious Foundation Cracks

• We’ve seen the PVC-and-duct-tape specials…

• But those cracks? Are they settling or structural? Nobody knows.
  💭 Which raises more red flags?

4. That One Weird Smell 🆚 Unwelcome Guests (Pest Evidence)

• Is it damp? Is it dead? Is it… cheese?

• Or are the attic squirrels throwing a house party again?
  💭 Which would you rather not explain to your client?

🏀 The Final Four

Once the votes are in, we’ll narrow it down to the Final Four Frightening Fixes. Based on past agent stories (and a few of our own wild inspections), here’s who we predict will make it:

• 🧱 HVAC on Its Last Leg – The silent killer of budgets and comfort.

• 🧀 That One Weird Smell That Nobody Can Explain – It haunts the halls… and the negotiations.

• 🌊 Leaky Basement – The classic Ohio spring special.

• ⚡ Faulty Wiring – Because no one wants to play “Guess Which Outlet Works.”

📣 Cast Your Vote!

We’re turning the court over to you, our fellow real estate pros and inspectors.
👉 What’s the biggest deal-breaker you’ve encountered in Ohio real estate?
Vote on our Facebook page this week and help us crown the ultimate inspection villain.

We’ll post the championship results next week—complete with funny field stories and a few photos from the Front Line Crew’s own inspection adventures.

🏡 Why It Matters

This isn’t just for laughs (though we love those too). Helping your clients understand which issues matter most—and how to fix or negotiate them—can be the difference between a closed deal and a busted bracket.

So whether you’re prepping a listing, walking through an offer, or helping buyers know what to expect, this blog (and your vote!) gives you one more way to bring value to the table.

🛠️ Stay in the Game with The Front Line Crew

We may not wear jerseys, but we’re always ready to show up for your clients—no matter what shows up in the basement, attic, or crawl space.

Need a pre-listing inspection? Got a buyer with questions?
🏀 Call in The Front Line Crew—we’re undefeated when it comes to finding the stuff you need to know.