Any structure that isn't the house, detached garage, shed, workshop, studio. Here's the catch most buyers don't know: standard home inspections exclude outbuildings (InterNACHI's Standards of Practice explicitly don't require them), so nobody looks unless you ask.
Scope-driven: $500 to $3,000 shed repairs; $3,000 to $8,000 detached-garage re-roof; rebuilds $20,000+MonitorStructureExterior
The ten second check
What else is typical in a house this age?
You are reading the detached garages, sheds & outbuildings page. Type the year the house was built and I will tell you what else tends to be true at that age, what it costs, and what to ask. One number, ten seconds.
Free. No account. Educational and impartial, not a home inspection.
Why it matters
A detached garage with a rotten roof, a heaved slab, or DIY wiring is a $5,000 to $20,000 surprise that closes with the house. "Power to the shed" is also a classic location for unpermitted electrical work, extension-cord-grade wiring, exposed splices, or a homemade subpanel deserve an ESA-verify flag. Structures tight to the property line raise setback and encroachment questions for your lawyer.
How to spot it
Compare the outbuilding's roof to the house's, they never re-shingle both. Look for cracked or heaved slabs, walls out of plumb, doors that don't close (frost movement), and any visible wiring inside. A listing that mentions a garage or workshop but never photographs it is telling you something.
What it costs
Scope-driven: shed repairs $500 to $3,000; a detached-garage re-roof $3,000 to $8,000 at roofing market rates; structural rebuilds $20,000+.
What to do
Tell your inspector explicitly if you want outbuildings included, it's an add-on, not a default. Ask about permits for any wired outbuilding.
Education and triage, not a home inspection. Casaroo flags what your photos show and reminds you the standard inspection skips these buildings. A contractor prices what it finds.
Common questions
Does my home inspection include the detached garage or shed?
No, and this surprises most buyers. InterNACHI's standards of practice explicitly exclude outbuildings, so nobody looks unless you ask for it as an add-on. Say it when you book, not on the day.
Is wiring in a shed or garage a problem?
It is one of the classic places for unpermitted electrical work. Extension-cord-grade wiring, exposed splices, or a homemade subpanel all deserve an electrician's look and, in Ontario, an ESA question about whether the work was ever notified.
What if the outbuilding sits on the property line?
That is a lawyer question, not a contractor one. Structures tight to a line raise setback and encroachment issues that can outlast the building itself, so flag it to your lawyer during your conditions.
Why does the listing show the garage but never photograph inside it?
It may mean nothing. It may also be the most useful thing the listing tells you. Ask for photos, and compare the outbuilding's roof to the house's, because they are almost never re-shingled together.
Last reviewed 2026-07-10.
This guide is general education, not a home inspection and not advice for your specific property. Always
consult the appropriate licensed professional, and get a licensed home inspection before you remove conditions
or buy. Cost ranges are 2026 estimates that vary by region, size, and access; confirm specifics with a
qualified professional.