The BIG picture---and the little picture
Home inspectors have differing opinions about the subject of what to report. I feel inspector's are hired to report everything they see and compile the information in an easy to read report distinguishing the big from the little. Charles Buell points out a little problem in his Wordless Wednesday. Charles is a top notch home inspector in Seattle Washington. Thanks Charles for posting this "little" problem!
In the big picture, this "defect" is pretty little.In fact some would say that even mentioning it on the inspection report is not necessary.For me, I don't try to figure out what my client dose or does not want to know about regarding the home. I simply do my best to record everything I notice. Obviously if I don't notice it, whatever "it" is, it won't be in the report. Now generally speaking I am not talking about cosmetic issues. On new construction however even some cosmetic issues might get documented. I will often on new construction have the buyer mark things I point out with blue tape. But this is more informational and the issues won't typically make the report unless it is pretty egregious. For cosmetic conditions there is typically a generic paragraph or two explaining the overall condition of the home specific to the age of the home. Buyers "expect" more cosmetic issues in older homes than newer homes---and the way the report is written should reflect that. If my buyer is not at the inspection these descriptive paragraphs become more important to the client.It doesn't take that much time to include something like the defect below in the report and for me the chore of trying to decide what is important and not important seems like an approach that is guaranteed to get me into hot water sooner or later.I don't think I have ever yet had a client call me and ask me why I didn't mention "x,y,z" in the report (knock on wood).So take a look at the picture below.What is the "non-issue" that the client might want to be made aware of.Charles Buell, Seattle Home Inspector
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