Is a Home Inspection Report Public or Private?

A home inspection involves a professional home inspector thoroughly assessing the condition of the property. You will then receive a home inspection report that will include any findings regarding deficiencies, including structural damage and safety hazards at the property. It will address both critical concerns of the property and minor damages that don’t need to be rectified immediately. The report should also include photos to demonstrate the extent of any damage in the home. 

All inspectors write up reports following the Home Inspection Standards of Practice (SOP) defined by the association the home inspector is a member of. These include associations such as the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, American Society of Home Inspectors, and National Association of Home Inspectors. Home inspectors look over and assess the following items on the property:

• Exterior and interior walls, doors, windows, walkways and driveways, railings, porches, and vegetation
• Heating and cooling systems
• Structural components in the basement and foundation
• Water and fuel supply systems, plumbing systems, and drainage 
• Electrical systems including service grounding and bonding, lighting fixtures, service conductors, circuit breakers and fuses, and carbon monoxide and smoke detectors
• Insulation and ventilation in the attic and mechanical exhaust systems in the kitchen and bathrooms

Who Performs Home Inspections?

Licensed home inspectors must carry a membership with the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors when performing inspections in the United States. They must pass the InterNACHI’s online inspector exam and comply with all the Standard of Practice set by them. In addition, some home inspectors will be part of more than one national association of home inspectors. Each association helps to keep home inspectors stay up to date on standards in home inspection and improves their knowledge of the process going forward.

Do You Need a Home Inspection Report?

When thinking of buying a home, a home inspection is incredibly important to understand what exactly it is you’re buying. The report will serve as a way for you to negotiate repairs with the seller or learn all the costs you might be taking on for repairs yourself once you buy the home. A home inspection does not signify anything in regards to your ability to purchase the home; it isn’t a test that the house has to pass or fail in order for you to buy it. The client pays for the inspection, as mortgage lenders don’t require inspections and will therefore not be part of their closing costs. Anyway, it is a small price to pay for peace of mind when buying a home.

Who gets to see the Home Inspection Report?

Unlike a home appraisal, a home inspection report is a private document that details the condition of the property. It is provided directly to the client, i.e., the owner or prospective owner of a home. 

It is not available to the public, so no one will have access to the home inspection report but you and whomever you choose to see it.

Are you in need of a home inspection in the Tampa area? Contact us to schedule an inspection!