Not in my opinion. If I am paying you to do an inspection, I feel like you need to tell me any item that may be or become pertinent. Whether it be gutters, roof wear, old signs of water damage, etc. Of course in the sellers view, small things are going to appear less significant. But if I am investing 100-300k of my money I want to know every detail and I can decide how important it is.

As a real estate broker, I divide home inspection reports into 2 groups:

Need to Know

Nice To Know

Your example about the gutters falls in the first category, in my opinion.

By the way, keep posting the photos and commentary. I find it very interesting and a good way to keep up with issues encountered during inspections

I have to comment on this...i ALWAYS recommend a home inspector to my clients, although he cost me two deals this year (the buyers still bought from me though) i use the same guy... i was just ready to sell my nephew a house, sure enough after inspection, the foundation was found to be unstable. yikes...

I need the home inspector to give my client the hard truth.. I did'nt do my job correctly if the client gets burned... 

i always recommend to my client a home inspection. I give them a few names and tell them they can call.

i rather lose a deal over a home inspection to be found then than later. that client will appreciate it in the long run.

i like the home inspector to give 100% the good, bad and ugly!

I don't think those types of issues are petty at all.  They ARE necessary for the buyer.  As much as us realtors sometimes dread seeing the 101 items on the reports, they are critical.  The DELIVERY of the info can make or break the deal in my opinion.  The inspector I use notes the petty items, but the report doesn't come off looking the house will spontaneously combust.  The important items are there front and center.

Thank you all, in general, for your positive comments about my blogs. I try to make sure they supply information that is helpful to the community vs mere promotion. Thanks again. I sometimes have trouble making sure I am not in territory that is perfectly fascinating to me but bores you silly.

A few of the Realtors hit the nail on the head. Deb said;

"i rather lose a deal over a home inspection to be found then than later. that client will appreciate it in the long run."

You are smart to think this way. I am sure your clients appreciate the job you do for them and they will be your best advertising later.

I recall an inspection I did a few months back for an out of state client who was referred to me by a past client of mine. Her Realtor was not someone I knew or had met on a job previously. We started off badly and things didn't get better as the inspection moved along. She was argumentative over many of the problems I discovered. I could see "our" client losing trust in her by the minute.

Well the woman did not buy the house. But she did buy another house which I also inspected for her. Who wasn't there the second time? That's right the Realtor from the the first house. She told me that the Realtor had tried to push the deal through after the inspection revealed many problems the woman was not willing to accept. She said she felt I was being truthful and looking out for her best interest while the Realtor was not.

So the other Realtor got a quick easy sale and commision and the other one got zip for her time and effort. If she had taken Debs advice she would have gotten a sale.

What it comes down to is if the inspection, I hate to say this, kills the deal just move on. You will get a sale and your client will appreciate you even more for being patient and understanding.

It only makes sense that, if the realtor has a buyer and this buyer is unwilling to accept some of the conditions of the house, the realtor should help the buyer find a house that the buyer is willing to accept.  I say this as both an inspector and a house buyer.