A professional home inspection is an assessment carried out to check a house’s safety and current condition. Professional home inspectors usually use various information resources when reporting their findings to provide all the needed information about a property to the home buyers and sellers.

Some of the resources inspectors use are regulations that pertain to the established requirements for the safety of residential properties as implemented by local, state, and federal agencies. These regulations usually differ from every location, but local code inspectors enforce them. Regulations may also differ in areas of the same city, especially areas that require special colors, materials, and building aesthetics.

The Home Inspector’s Job

While a home inspector may look for signs of safety issues or nonconformities that don’t follow code inspections, it is not their job to report or enforce compliance with these codes and regulations. Instead, they are hired to provide a detailed report about the property to the home buyer or seller, including identifying and explaining its building materials, appliances, HVAC, electrical, and water systems. 

Moreover, an inspector may also look for reports on any suspected unlicensed or unpermitted restorations, additions, and alterations to the home. That includes apparent alterations, as well as those referencing publicly available information. 

Every inspector also uses their own methodology, but the whole scope of the inspection is understood and agreed upon by the client before the inspection is performed in the first place. 

The Home Inspection Report

It’s important to remember that in home inspections, there is no pass and fail remarks. No property is termed failing or passing, but it is crucial for everyone involved to understand the scope of a home inspection and what to expect from it. 

While so many properties can look similar, each one is unique. Every home has its own systems, appliances, materials, conditions, structure, and age. A home inspector’s job is to determine everything and list all the information related to those facts. The home inspector also ensures that the client understands all of the specifics. 

That makes it pertinent for an inspector to complete a thorough home inspection report that the clients can easily understand. A report can then be used as the client’s basis for an informed decision. 

A professional report should be categorized to include all available information about the property. For instance, a small section may list the age of materials used for construction, such as roof covering materials or exterior siding materials, as well as the materials’ life expectancy. 

In every way, a report should include detailed and accurate information about the home and not a grade or passing remark, or else it will be deemed an opinionated assessment. An inspector is meant to stick to the facts and never tell a client whether a property failed or passed an inspection. 

Conclusion

A home inspection should only be able to tell the full details and assessment of a property from a professional way. Above all, it should serve as guidance to either the buyer or seller for whatever decision or purpose it is meant for.

At Ally Property Inspections, we move with confidence. We specialize in reducing our client’s anxiety as they embark on a new chapter of their lives–buying or selling a home. Our highly trained professionals perform experienced and thorough home inspections in Birmingham, AL, and Atlanta, GA. We are dedicated to excellent inspection services one home at a time. Get in touch with us and let us know how we can help!