Cornerstone Home Inspectors
Cornerstone Home Inspectors · Data by Housing Condition Index
2025 Greater Dothan Home Condition Brief
Annual findings from a full year of professional home inspections across the Greater Dothan area
Annual Edition
2025 Baseline
Vol. 1
Most inspected homes had at least one low-cost pre-listing repair opportunity.
Incomplete electrical protection, smoke alarm deficiencies, and aging water heaters were among the most common recurring findings across the Greater Dothan area in 2025.
13
Housing Condition Index indicators tracked in this report
Headline Findings
Four patterns that defined 2025 inspections
Rates reflect dataset-eligible inspections completed across the Greater Dothan area during the full calendar year 2025.
83%
Incomplete GFCI Protection
Missing or non-compliant GFCI outlets across kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and exterior circuits.
Safety
71%
Smoke Alarm Coverage Deficiencies
Missing, expired, or non-functional smoke alarms found in 7 of 10 homes inspected during the study period.
Safety
55%
Water Heaters Near or Beyond Service Life
More than half of all water heaters are at or past the 10-year threshold. Median age across all inspected homes: 12 years.
Aging Systems
83%
Attic Insulation Below R-38
Nearly all homes fall short of the current R-38 standard. The most common documented level is R-30.
Energy / Maintenance
2025 HCI Rankings
Most Common Findings in 2025 Inspections
All 13 Housing Condition Index indicators, ranked by occurrence rate. Crawl space moisture rate is calculated over homes with crawl space foundations only.
Crawl Space Moisture Conditions Of crawl-space homes only
89%
Environmental
Incomplete GFCI Protection
83%
Safety
Attic Insulation Below R-38
83%
Maintenance
Smoke Alarm Coverage Deficiencies
71%
Safety
Water Heaters Near or Beyond Service Life
55%
Aging Systems
Exhaust Fan Discharging Into Attic
40%
Maintenance
HVAC Systems Near or Beyond Service Life
38%
Aging Systems
Loose or Unsecured Toilet
31%
Maintenance
Garage Self-Closer Missing or Non-Functional
30%
Maintenance
Past Water Staining in Attic
20%
Environmental
Wood-Destroying Organism Evidence
19%
Environmental
Range Anti-Tip Bracket Missing
17%
Safety
Dryer Lint Accumulation / Fire Hazard
15%
Safety
Safety
Aging / Maintenance
Environmental / Moisture
Moisture Conditions
Crawl Space Moisture — A Near-Universal Finding
Among homes with crawl space foundations, moisture evidence was the most consistently documented condition in 2025.
89%
of crawl-space homes

Crawl Space Moisture Conditions

Nearly 9 in 10 homes inspected with crawl space foundations showed documented moisture evidence. Observed conditions include historical staining, vapor barrier deficiencies, efflorescence and mineral deposits, and active dampness at time of inspection.

Detailed subcategory breakdown by moisture type (staining, efflorescence, active moisture, organic growth) is a planned Q1 2026 enhancement pending data pipeline updates. Subconditions are not mutually exclusive.

Cohort Analysis
How Home Age Shapes the Condition Profile
Five key indicators tracked across four build-year cohorts, using inspections with valid recorded build-year data.
Age Group Incomplete GFCI ● Smoke Alarm Deficiencies ● Water Heaters Near EOL ● HVAC Near EOL ● Insulation Below R-38 ●
Before 1970
94%
92%
61%
44%
88%
1970 – 1989
94%
92%
71%
48%
89%
1990 – 2009
79%
88%
79%
51%
95%
2010 and Newer
70%
24%
21%
15%
65%
GFCI deficiencies are pervasive at all ages. Even post-2010 homes show incomplete GFCI protection in 70% of inspections. Electrical safety improvements do not come automatically with newer construction.
1990–2009 homes face peak water heater replacement exposure. At 79%, this cohort has the highest rate of water heaters at or beyond service life — those systems are now 16–35 years old.
Smoke alarm compliance improves markedly in newer homes. Post-2010 construction shows a 24% rate versus 88–92% in earlier cohorts, reflecting updated code requirements and newer installed equipment.
Practical Implications
Six Preparation Items That Often Cost Less Than a Negotiation Credit
Based on the most common findings from 2025 inspections. Typical cost estimates reflect Greater Dothan area contractor pricing.
1

Replace Missing or Non-Functional GFCI Outlets

Kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and exterior receptacles. One of the most common inspection findings across all home ages.

Typical cost: $150 – $300 (electrician visit)
2

Replace Expired or Missing Smoke Alarms

Smoke alarms have a 10-year service life. Replacement before listing removes one of the most predictable inspection findings.

Typical cost: $100 – $250 (full home)
3

Install or Repair Garage Door Self-Closer

Required for fire separation between attached garage and living space. Found missing or non-functional in 30% of inspected homes.

Typical cost: $50 – $150
4

Clean Dryer Vent Duct

Lint accumulation is a documented fire hazard. Professional cleaning also improves dryer efficiency and is a low-cost, high-credibility pre-listing item.

Typical cost: $80 – $150
5

Secure Loose or Rocking Toilet

Found in 31% of inspections. Usually a minor repair that prevents water damage concerns from surfacing during buyer diligence.

Typical cost: $75 – $200
6

Extend Bathroom Exhaust Fan Duct to Exterior

Fans discharging into attic space introduce moisture and may cause staining or organic growth over time. Found in 40% of inspections.

Typical cost: $100 – $300
Cost estimates reflect typical Greater Dothan area contractor pricing, 2025. Actual costs vary by home configuration and contractor. Cornerstone Home Inspectors does not guarantee or warrant these estimates.
Methodology
About This Data

Dataset Summary

Study PeriodFull Year 2025 (January – December)
ScopeAll dataset-eligible Cornerstone inspections completed during the study period
InspectorsBen Morehead, Stan Morehead — Cornerstone Home Inspectors
GeographyGreater Dothan area, including Dothan AL, Enterprise AL, and surrounding communities
Cohort AnalysisInspections with valid recorded build-year data; a small number were excluded due to missing or invalid data
Crawl Space SampleA subset of inspected homes had crawl space foundations; the 89% moisture rate is calculated over that subset only
Submarket DetailCity-level breakdown planned as Q1 2026 enhancement
Produced ByHousing Condition Index — data analysis and reporting partner for Cornerstone Home Inspectors

Each HCI finding is determined from structured inspection data using standardized flag conditions defined in the Cornerstone inspection protocol. Findings represent documented conditions at the time of inspection and are not predictions of future failure.

This analysis reflects homes inspected by Cornerstone Home Inspectors during the study period and should not be interpreted as a statistically representative census of all homes in the region. Homes are inspected at the request of buyers and sellers and are not randomly selected.

Media & Realtor Inquiries

For interviews, additional data, or a presentation for your brokerage or association, contact Cornerstone Home Inspectors. Real estate professionals can also view our print-ready data brief.

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