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Home Inspection Report Styles Which Do You Prefer?

By Jennifer Fivelsdal

Real Estate Broker/Owner with JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 10491201242

January 20, 2007 01:30 AM

I have had the opportunity to work with many home inspectors and I have noticed at least three different reporting styles.

•1. On the spot and handwritten

•2. Exhaustive template style

•3. Concise, customized informative style

1. On the spot and handwritten

PROS.

The buyer will have the report immediately with the exceptions of items such as water and radon test.

You can start addressing items of concern sooner.

CONS.

A handwritten report, especially if not very legible, might give the impression it is not thorough as it could be if more time was spent analyzing the findings.

Poor handwriting make the report hard to read and does not present a professional appearance as a computer generated one would.

Adds about an hour to inspection time since inspector is doing the report. This time is money out of the agent's pocket since he or she could be doing more productive work.

Seller is sometimes annoyed at the length of the inspection.

2. Exhaustive Template Style

PROS.

May be appropriate for a detail oriented buyer; lots of information.

Computer generated; professional appearance.

CONS.

Can overwhelm and confuse the average buyer with too much unnecessary information.

Takes many days to complete and send to buyer. Delay may cause buyer to become concern.

3. CONCISED, CUSTOMIZED INFORMATIVE STYLE

PROS.

This report is easy to read and is written just for the customer with photos of items being addressed. This is so visual that even a novice will get the point.

May be sent to client in a PDF file, making it easy to share information.

CONS.

So, if you are an inspector still handwriting the report you might want to consider a computer generated report that is easier to share. Sometimes all parties involved in the purchase are in different locations and wishes to share the information, so with a PDF this is easy to do. With present technology many buyers are demanding this.

So tell me, what kind of reports have you come across and what are your likes and dislikes?

Jennifer Fivelsdal - JFIVE HOMES REALTY LLC - 845-758-6842- jennifer@jfivehomes.com

www.jfivehomes.com or www.midhudsonhomevalue.com

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John Klassen

M & T Bank - Kingston, NY

With technology they should be able to give you a computer generated report on the spot. This is the next step for them.

Jan 20, 2007 01:35 AM

Eric Bouler

Gardner Realtors, Licensed in La. - New Orleans, LA

Listening to your Needs

#2 is the worst. #3 is preferred. weather I get one one the spot is not big deal. One of my inspectors can do it on the spot, the other e-mails the report that nite.Why read the extra garbage that many put in the report. The concise detailed report of the deficiences is a must on one page.

Jan 20, 2007 01:41 AM

Leigh Brown

Leigh Brown & Associates, RE/MAX Executive - Charlotte, NC

CEO, Dream Maker - Charlotte, NC

My favorite inspector uploads every detail into homegauge, we have the report with a day and have the ability to give others access to it with permission. The digital photos of items of concern make all the difference to me. I deal with a lot of clients who buy and then go home (out of state) until closing-the more details and photos, the better for them. =)

Jan 20, 2007 02:31 AM

Bill Williams

Coldwell Banker Tomlinson Group - Boise, ID

the inspectors I am personally familiar with here in Boise all deliver an email, computer generated report within 24 hours. All use pictures of critical or otherwise commented on items. From a homebuyer's perspective, I've had good feedback that the reports that include homeowner care and maintenance sections are really helpful, especially to folks who move here from out of state. My contacts from Western Washington are usually pretty flatfooted when it comes to things like air-conditioning and irrigation, so that "wordy report" is valuable to them.

Jan 20, 2007 04:21 AM

Jennifer Fivelsdal

JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY

Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

John: believe it or not their are many inspectors in our area still not doing this and it will get them in the pocket book.

Jan 20, 2007 05:12 AM

Jennifer Fivelsdal

JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY

Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Eric: #3 is my preference and also that of my clients, you can share it and it is easy to understand very concise. People are busy and they want you to get to the point.

Jan 20, 2007 05:15 AM

Jennifer Fivelsdal

JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY

Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Bill I think we are all in agreement that a computer generated report is preferred. Pictures of critical items with a good descrpition is a must; consumers wants it.

I agree that the lengthy report can be beneficial to certain clients so maybe their should be a dialogue as to which report is best for the particular client.

Jan 20, 2007 05:25 AM

George Souto

George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT

Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Jennifer, being a Loan Officer I do not get involved in the Home Inspection Reports, so this Post is very helpful to me in understanding the types of reports that are produced by Home Inspectors. Thank you for providing this information.

Jan 20, 2007 02:07 PM

Jennifer Fivelsdal

JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY

Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

George It is a pleasure to contribute. I too really appreiated your "First time Home Buyer series. Thank you.

Jan 20, 2007 03:09 PM

Danny Smith

DISCOVER TEXAS HOMES - Round Rock, TX

I prefer # 3. Also I prefer the buyer not be there but offer for them to be if they want since thay are paying for it. I do personally attend all inspections where at the end of the inspection the inspector can walk me through the house and explain to me what he has found. Then I'm able to answer any and all question the buyer may have. I also prefer that the seller not be present during the inspection. I find that the less people around the inspector can give a quicker and more complete inspection. My being there allows me to head off any derailments from the inspector themselves.

Jan 21, 2007 11:29 PM

Jennifer Fivelsdal

JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY

Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Danny in my area the buyers usually attend the inspector only on rare occasion isthe sellers around. Some times I which I had the chance to head off derailments from the inspectors, at times alot is made out of nothing.

Jan 22, 2007 12:02 AM

Danny Smith

DISCOVER TEXAS HOMES - Round Rock, TX

Jennifer - ABSOLUTELY! Some inspectors can derail a sale instantly with the wrong comments. I try to recommend a couple of inspectors that I know will always do a good job.

Jan 23, 2007 07:52 PM

Jennifer Fivelsdal

JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY

Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Danny: That is why I recommend 3 good inspectors, the problem usually occurs when the client tries to shop just on price.

Jan 23, 2007 10:48 PM

Rick McCullough

Alert Home Services - Denver, CO

On the spot, with pictures and informative but not overwhelming. My style and what most of my clients perfer.

Apr 08, 2007 08:12 PM

Jack Feldmann

Clayton Inspection Service, Inc. - Knoxville, TN

Excellent question Jennifer. Almost ANY report can be confusing for some people. As a professional home inspector (since 1989) I have a fine line to walk between giving my client the bare minimum (the minimum Standards we must adhere to) and TOO MUCH. Since we usually don't know anything about our client until we meet them, we have to try to figure out just how much information they NEED, and how much is OVERLOAD, in a very short time.

The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) has a Standards of Practice that we MUST comply with. It tells us WHAT we MUST inspect, and WHAT we MUST report on in the report. In States that license home inspectors, there are also Standards that must be followed.

Now while Danny doesn't want his clients there during the inspection, I prefer they attend. While it does go faster, the time saved is usually more than made up for with all of the questions after they get the report. As far as everyone coming at the end? The downside of that (for an inspector), is that sometimes they want to go over the entire inspection, step by step, and I end up spending too much time at the house.

I have lots of out of town clients that can not attend the inspection. Since my report is a PDF file, they can download the report, read it, and then call me with all of the questions they may have. This is where I wish that all of my clients had an agent like Danny, that take the time to attend the inspection, listen to the inspector, and convey some of the findings to our client. I'm just not sure what he means by "derailments".

As inspectors, we have a huge liability. At the same time , we are trying to give our clients as much information as we can about the house they are thinking of buying. I think photos are a must for any report format.

As you said, it is also mind numbing why someone would try to save $25 on the biggest investment in their lives, by shopping for the "cheapest" inspector.

Jan 20, 2008 07:17 AM