Severity labels only help if you translate them into action.
| Label | Typical meaning | Buyer move |
|---|---|---|
| LOW | Monitor or inexpensive fix | Bundle into walkthrough punch list |
| MODERATE | Plan a repair; not usually walk-away alone | Get one quote before final negotiation |
| HIGH | Material cost or safety; time-sensitive | Specialist visit; price or credit ask |
| CRITICAL | Safety or major system failure risk | Pause; get scoped repair before you proceed |
Rules of thumb
- Stack of MODERATE items in one system (roof, HVAC, foundation) can equal one HIGH in budget impact.
- CRITICAL without a clear repair path is a walk candidate until scoped.
- “Insufficient data” is not a soft proceed — it means you still need information.
If your report uses different language (“Priority 1”), map it once, then stay consistent. Mixing scales across inspectors is how buyers overpay on fear.