It is important to ensure that the home inspection report you receive from your inspector is comprehensive and covers all the necessary features of the home. This will guarantee that you have all the information necessary for you to make an informed decision about whether to purchase the home, or what repairs to make before selling.

There are some things which are indicators of a good inspection report:

• A comprehensive report should be longer than ten pages, and may include photographs of defects or problem areas. If the sample reports of your inspection company are only three or four pages long, they probably will not be detailed enough.
• The report should be easy to understand. If you do not understand any points of the report, be sure to ask the inspector.
• It should cover all the main features of the home, both exterior and interior.
• A detailed description of the state of each element of the home should be discussed, not simply a “functional” or “not functional” comment.
• A good report should also provide recommended remedial actions and areas which may require future maintenance.
• Beware of reports which are filled with disclaimers, or are mostly photographs. They may be there just to fill up space!
• A good report should cover at the least: foundations, exterior cladding, roof, interior structural, electrical, plumbing, drainage, costing of repairs, remedial work
• It should also include heating or cooling systems, and water tightness. A leaky home can cause a large number of expensive problems in the future if the house becomes water damaged.
• The report should be available in written form, and should be provided to you within two to three days.

Even if the inspection report identifies no problems with the home, it was still definitely worth it. It means that you can decide to purchase the home with absolute peace of mind, and be sure that no problems will arise as soon as you move in. You can enjoy your new home in comfort without having to worry about the need for costly repairs.