Performing a home inspection and compiling a report is no mean task – a comprehensive report can be as lengthy as twenty pages for small homes to over a hundred pages for larger ones. Every page of a home inspection report lists and details factors that can influence the outcome of any potential deals for the property.
These days, almost every homebuyer gets a property inspected for issues by a professional company before closing the sale. While home inspectors adhere to the same general format to ensure that the report covers every inch of the property, no two home inspection reports are completely similar.
Here’s a through breakdown of what you can expect to find in a home inspection report.
The Inspection Conditions and General Information about the Property
The initial few pages of a home inspection report are comprised of general information including the property address, the inspection company’s information, and definitions or a key of codes or symbols which will be used in the report to indicate the severity of each issue.
For instance, the majority of inspection reports will include – but aren’t limited to – the following codes:
- I – Inspected
- NI – Not Inspected
- NP – Not Present
- S – Safety Concern
- R – General Repair
- D – Defect
This section of the report will also include who was present at the time of the inspection, the areas of the property that were inaccessible, and the weather conditions at the time of inspection.
A Detailed Evaluation of Components and Systems
The most important part of the report, this section will cover every square-inch of the home – from missing roof shingles to peeling paint on the edge of a ceiling. This part will provide you detailed information on each issue, why it’s an issue, and a recommended course of action from the inspector.
This section will cover important systems, such as the electricals, plumbing, and the HVAC, as well as the presence of any wood destroying organisms.
Annotated Pictures of Reported Issues
The inspector will take photos wherever they spot an issue – photos that will be documented in the report. The buyer and the realtor will refer to these photos when they’re reviewing the inspection report before negotiating.
Some inspectors also thermal imaging radiometers to determine whether there are any moisture-related issues with the insulation, ventilation, or electrical components that are located inside the walls.
A Brief Summary and Ratings for Each Issue
The last section of the report will be comprise of a summary of the issues that have been identified with ratings or symbols used to identify their severity. This allows the buyer and their realtor to easily refer back to an issue without having to go through dozens of pages.
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