The Home Inspection Report

The Home Inspection Report

 

 

Prospective Home Inspectors think that learning the components, construction practices, proper building techniques and other aspects of a house is what they need to learn at school.  That is only partially true.  Home Inspection School will teach you all you need to know about the systems and safe conditions associated with houses.  However, the most important thing learned while at a Home Inspection School is how to report what you find to your client. 

 

The effective way you report your findings is critical.  The Home Inspection Report is not only a legal document, but even more important, it communicates to your client what you have found.  You may know all there is about home construction and every detail about what to look for when inspecting a home; it does no good unless you can clearly communicate, in a well crafted report, what you have discovered.

 

It is necessary that a report is clear, concise and easily understood.  It is important that the report does not raise more questions than it answers.  The client must see the house through your eyes and clearly understand what your trained opinion of the condition of the house is. 

 

Each section of the house needs to be clearly demarcated and your findings for these sections must be explained section by section.  By breaking the house into understandable and logical pieces like; exterior walls, roof and gutters, bathrooms etc.; the client can be led through the report in manageable chunks which eventually allows a clear picture of the house in its entirety. Breaking the report into sections allows the inspector and the client to clearly see the big picture.  Reporting in a simple and straight forward manner is essential for a Home Inspection to be a worthwhile service.

 

Pictures being included in the report help the inspector show the client what he or she sees.  A Home Inspection is a non-intrusive, visual inspection; it only makes sense to include pictures in the report.

 

When you write practice reports as you take the Home Inspection course it allows the opportunity to have your reports critiqued by the instructors.  This ensures that you are trained in the proper language of reporting and your reports are written in a clear and concise manner.  Writing good reports on your first inspections is not to be expected. 

 

Practice-writing an effective report is just as important as practicing inspecting.  Understanding the reporting process teaches you what you should be looking at in each component of the homes you are inspecting.  My approach to teaching Home Inspection combines report writing throughout the coursework, because you are becoming a consultant to the home buyer not just an expert on homes.  Transferring your knowledge and expertise to your clients is your primary goal and is only possible through a great report.