One major complaint I hear about Home Inspectors is that they are too nit-picky. First, what are the definitions inolved?

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source -

nit·pick

1. to be excessively concerned with or critical of inconsequential details. –verb (used with object)

2. to criticize by focusing on inconsequential details. –noun

3. a carping, petty criticism. –adjective

4. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a nitpicker or nitpicking.

The key word in that definition is inconsequential. What is inconsequential?

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - 

in·con·se·quen·tial  

1. of little or no importance; insignificant; trivial.

2. inconsequent; illogical.

So, nit-picking is when a Home Inspector reports on things of no importance or that are insignificant.

OK, se let me ask you this question. Who gets to decide what is nit-picking? Is it any condition that costs less than $1000 to fix? $100? $10? Is there a price tag? If it's a price tag, how is the price detemined? Would a comment on a $2,000,000 house be nit-picking, but the same comment on a $200,000 house is OK? Is nit-picking based on how many total comments are made? If the house has 10 items of note, is item #11 nit-picking?

Lack of caulking may be considered inconsequential to one client as he is a contractor of 45 years and routinly recaulks his home. But for that 87 year old grandmother that needs to save every penny on energy costs, it could be very important. So, as a Home Inspector, should I now be required to find out from the client what is and what isn't important?

The answer to that is no. A Home Inspector's job is to visually inspect the property and report the findings. If there is an item that does not operate as designed, it should be reported, period. Home Inspectors are not suppose to determine if they found enough problems, or too many or too few. Just report what is actually found. Any inspector that knowing omits a comment is not only opening themselves to a lawsuit, but they are doing a major dis-service to the client.

Note, I am talking about just reporting the item. Nit-picking is not over stating or exagerating a problem. Although some may do it, I think most agree that it does more harm then good. Nor am I talking about wrong comments like "Thats an ugly color rug" as a HI should not be discussing cosmetics.

IMHO, it is the job of the Agent to discuss the report with the client and together determine what actions to take. It is the job of the Inspector to report all of their findings, not just the one they think might be important enough.

Before anyone gives an example of nit-picking, answer this first. If you, your little sister, your 87 year old grandmother or your daughter were buying the house, would you say it's OK not to tell them?