Home inspections have been around for a few decades now, but are still not well understood by many homebuyers and homeowners. That's partly the fault of the profession. Home inspections are diverse, and although there is some standardization, there are lots of different approaches to both the inspection process and the inspection report.
We invite you to have a look at our thoughts, and decide what you are looking for. This is a starting point, and will give you an idea about what home inspection reports may and may not include.
Purpose of a report
The purpose of the report is to help a prospective buyer make an informed decision about the house they are interested in. A good report will document the current condition, and identify any impending repairs.
· Priorities
o Set priorities for the various home improvements recommended.
o Differentiate between urgent and discretionary improvements.
· Implications
- Good reports explain and provide an understanding to the homeowner what the problem means.
· Plain English - Home inspection is a technical process.
- Should be written in terms anyone can understand.
- Technical jargon may be confusing.
· Clarity - Good reports are clear, simple and well organized.
- Help the reader keep oriented.
- Allow you to scan for important information
- Reading a report should not be a challenging intellectual exercise.
- Reports should be free of filler, material inserted to sound authoritative that does not actually help.
- Lots of information, but include only what is relevant.
· Layers - Address the reader's different needs at different stages of homeownership. As a result, we believe home inspections should be written in three layers.
1. The big picture before you buy - addressing the significant items that may affect your buying decision.
o An executive summary of the significant issues is short and sweet.
o Lets you see the big picture.
o Help you make a ‘buy or don't buy' decision.
2. Once you move in - Your needs are a little different.
o Review details of major issues as well as minor issues.
o Issues are prioritized
o Help protect your investment.
3. A third level - Sometimes you need more detail.
o Include reference material to help you understand all the components of your house.
o Explanation and illustrations.
Therefore, the three levels of a report are
Ø the executive summary,
Ø the body
Ø the reference material.
Extras - Considered to be optional. May or may not be included depending on policies in your region.
· Photos
o Provide reinforcement and clarity to conditions identified in the report.
o They also provide a visual break in the report.
· Ballpark costs - Give you some indication as to the cost that you may incur to correct any issues.
o Allow you to make an informed decision.
o During the negotiation process and do not have time to research costs.
o It is difficult to get contractors in to give you quotes on home improvements if it is not yet yours.
o Ballpark costs in the report may help resolve unanswered questions.
· Perspective - The home inspection report can be intimidating, and if poorly written, may scare people away from a perfectly good home.
o A good report should lend perspective to the issues.
§ For example, if you are looking at a home in a 15-year-old neighborhood, most of the roofs will be close to the end of their life. This is not a defect in the home that you are looking at, but it is a fact of life. Roof coverings are disposable components and they last between 14 and 18 years, typically.
o Should help the prospective buyer compare homes of a similar age and type.
o Allow buyers to make an educated decision.
Summary
In closing, we believe a good quality home inspection report should
Ø be quick and easy to read with lots of headings,
Ø establish priorities,
Ø include implications for defects,
Ø be written in layers,
Ø include costs and
Ø provide perspective for homebuyers.
Comments (3)Subscribe to CommentsComment