Related topics
Soon after your home inspector finishes peering, poking, and prodding, he'll send you a report that details everything he found. It's a comprehensive list of major and minor issues - everything from cracked window panes and missing light-switch covers to structural problems like a deteriorating roof or a crumbling foundation. Look for the report a day or two after the inspection. (If you don't get it, give the inspector a nudge - some states limit the time in which you have to complete the inspection and deal with resulting issues.) If you attended the inspection, you should already have a pretty good idea of what the report will say.
During the inspection, your inspector probably carried a clipboard with forms he filled out as he examined the home or a used hand-held computer to record observations. These on-the-scene notes form the basis of his report. Some reports are little more than checklists that indicate whether each element is acceptable or needs replacing. The best reports describe the condition of the house in long form - paragraphs that take the time to explain the problems.
Most reports are several pages long and divided into sections. The first section is boilerplate, detailing the services the inspector provided and limiting his liability to the inspection fee you paid - in other words, if there's a problem with the report, you can get your money back, but the inspector doesn't owe you anything beyond that. Then he evaluates the house room by room, including all the structural components and systems listed earlier in this chapter. He may use digital photos to illustrate his findings. The report often ends with a summary of the major findings.
Read the entire report. It won't grip you like the latest bestseller, but it has more relevance to your day-to-day life. Write down questions that come to mind and make margin notes, then call your inspector. He can tell you which repairs you have to make and which are highest priority. But he won't tell you whether or not you should buy the house - that's your decision, and that's why it's important that you understand the report clearly.
After you talk with the inspector, contact contractors to get estimates of the high-priority repairs. You need these numbers when you sit down to negotiate with the seller.
