To paraphrase Yogi Berra, home inspection is 90% inspecting and the other half is communicating.  Technical skill inspecting a home is only useful if the home inspection findings can be clearly communicated to the home buyer to act upon for their needs.

Philosophy of Reporting

My philosophy of reporting is to clearly communicate every home issue I see descriptively, explaining the implications of the issues I’ve seen and giving direction for solutions, all without being alarmist in tone.

• Reporting every issue. I report every issue I see because I have limited background information about home buyers.  Home buyers have a variety of motivations and reasons for the homes they pick which helps explain the huge variety of homes chosen.  I don’t want to judge what may be insignificant to a buyer.
• What does the issue lead to? Understanding the implications of what I find helps home buyers clearly understand the significance of the finding.
• What do we do next? Giving direction to resolve the identified issue helps home buyers either enlist additional technical support or know who to call.
• Screaming reports. Inspection reports should rarely scream!  Most identified issues have solutions when we understand the implications and have a direction for solving the issue.

Your Around the Home Inspections report will thoroughly cover the foundation, structure, exterior, roof, plumbing, electrical, heating, cooling, interior, and appliances of the home.  The typical report summarizes the inspection effort reporting on over 300 data points on your home, in a clearly written, easily understood narrative that includes photos illustrating issues. The inspection and the report will meet and in most cases exceed the Standards of Practice required by the North Carolina Home Inspector Licensing Board.

The Around the Home Inspections Report

• Narrative Style. The typical report is 25 to 30 pages of clearly written, narrative style description of findings for your home.  Organized by major categories of the home, the report includes over 300 data points on your home for current information and future reference.
• Jargon free zone. While technical terms are sometimes required to accurately describe issues, every effort is made to avoid jargon and “construction speak”.
• A picture. A picture is worth a thousand words.  Photos illustrate locations, problems, and solutions in a way written language struggles to achieve.
• And in summary. Every inspection report has a numbered summary that organizes the specific issues identified in the report by major category.  But please read the entire report!
• Accessibility.  Answering questions after the report can be critical for fully understanding the report.  Text, email, and phone calls are all answered.
• Maintenance and operational info. Your long term value in the home requires your proper use and care of the home.  The inspection report will include specific maintenance and operational information on your home.

 Inspection Issues Reported

The average Around the Home Inspection in Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and the Piedmont Triad North Carolina area on existing homes has 39 issues reported, with the range of reported issues being from 18 to 93.  The average Around the Home Inspection on new construction has 26 issues reported, with the range of reported issues being from 12 to 47.

Home buyers usually feel under pressure during the home buying process; large financial commitments, contract documents, deadlines, due diligence, lenders, attorneys, and closing documents!  A good home inspector can’t resolve these issues, or promise that the home you intend to buy has no issues.  But your long term home buying experience will be better with a well written, understandable evaluation of the home you want to buy, well-illustrated with photos!  Good communications matter!