Do I Have to Read My Inspection Report?
Spoiler: Yes. And here’s why.
You’ve just wrapped up your home inspection. Maybe you walked the property with your inspector, asked a few good questions, and got a decent feel for things.
Later that night, or early the next morning—ding!—Your inbox lights up.
Your report is ready.
And a voice in your head says:
“Do I actually have to read this thing?”
Let’s answer that, shall we?
The Walk-Through Is Helpful—But the Report Is Permanent
Walking the home with your inspector is valuable. It gives you context, a chance to ask questions, and a sense of what’s going on.
But here’s the thing:
You won’t remember everything.
Neither will your agent. Nor will the inspector.
And if there’s ever a dispute or forgotten detail? The written report is what matters. That’s the legal record, the paper trail, the receipts.
The Report Isn’t Just a Repeat of the Walk-Through
Your inspector didn’t just write up what you already talked about. There’s more in there.
We inspect over 101 categories of components during a general inspection. Not everything gets mentioned in person—especially if it’s something minor, or if we discover something after the walk-through.
The report includes:
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Photos
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Technical notes
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Safety issues
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Maintenance items
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Anything we felt was worth documenting
Think of the walk-through as the trailer. The report is the full movie.
If You’re The Agent: Yes, You Should Read It Too
You’ve seen a lot of inspection reports. We know.
But not all clients do. And many will look to you for the summary.
Some agents think they don’t need to read the report, and it’s solely up to the client.
However, You have a fiduciary duty to your client.
Your client is trusting you to help them make an informed decision. You, as the agent, reading the report helps you guide them better—and makes you look like the rockstar you probably are.
That’s why it’s smart to read the report yourself. You don’t want to be blindsided by something your client found—or worse, confidently tell them “it’s no big deal,” only to realize you missed item #14.3
You Might Be Surprised What’s in There
Every now and then, we get a call:
“Nobody told me the roof was in bad shape”
We pull up the report.
Boom. Roof section. Clear as day. Labeled. Photos. Recommendations.
Not hidden. Not ambiguous.
It’s not that the report failed—it’s that it went unread.
We Wrote This for You—Not a Lawyer
We work hard to make our reports clear, readable, and useful. No robotic boilerplate. No jargon soup.
You don’t need a PhD in construction. Just 15–20 minutes and a little curiosity.
And if you want help walking through it, we’ve even created a guide:
👉 You Just Received Your Report… Now What?
Final Thought: This Is Your Investment—Own It
You’re not just buying walls and a roof. You’re buying everything inside, underneath, and behind it.
Your California purchase contract and additional forms all direct you a the buyer, to make observations yourself. If you fail to read the report, not only are you throwing away the money you paid for the report, but you are going against the advice of the forms you signed.
So yes, read the report.
Because this isn’t just a transaction to us.
It’s “an inspection that matters… for people who care.”
And if you’ve read this far?
You’re probably one of them.
Book your inspection now by calling 818-298-3405 or book online here.