InspectAPedia ®

Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair, & Problem Prevention Advice
Home | Air
Conditioning
| Electrical
-
Energy Saving
| Environment
Indoor
| Exteriors | Heating | Home
Inspection
| Insulate
-
Ventilate
| Interiors | Mold
Inspect/Test
| Plumbing
Water
Septic
| Roofing | Solar
Energy
| Structure | Contact Us
Directory of Professionals to Inspect or Test a Building


Mobile Phone/PDA website viewMobile View
Air Conditioning & Heat Pumps
Bookstore
Electrical
Environment
Exteriors
Heating
Home Inspection
  Inspector Directory
  Home Inspector Education
  Historic Homes, Home Improvement Costs, Research
  Home Inspection Company Franchises
  Home Inspection Definitions & Terms
  Home Inspection Report Guide
  Mobile Home Inspection Guide
  Checklists vs Narrative Reports
  How to Become a Home Inspector
Insulate Ventilate
Interiors
Mold Inspect/Test
Plumbing Water Septic
Roofing
Structure

More Information

InspectAPedia.comInspectAPedia ® Home & Site Map
InspectAPedia Blog - News Updates
Air Conditioning & Heat Pumps
Bookstore
Electrical
Environment
Exteriors
Heating
Home Inspection
Insulate Ventilate
Interiors
Mold Inspect/Test
Plumbing Water Septic
Roofing
Structure
Accuracy & Privacy Policies
Contact Us

GO TO Carson Dunlop's Home Study Course Information - How to Become a Home Inspector: Carson Dunlop's nationally recognized Home Study Course,
selected by ASHI the American Society of Home Inspectors and other professionals and associations.
This website author is a contributor to this course.

Narrative vs Annotated-Checklist Home Inspection Reports
InspectAPedia®  -    

  • Home inspection report writing guidelines, examples, & standards
  • A brief comparison of narrative and annotated checklist type home inspection rports
  • Legal risk associated with inadequate home inspection reports
Our site offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at InspectAPedia.com/appointment.htm.

ASHI data indicates that one of the most common sources of dispute and subsequent litigation is the "skimpy" un annotated "checklist" report, particularly when used by inexperienced inspectors. But wait: some checklist reports are quite effective. Further, some narrative reports are ineffective, particularly if their length is consumed with disclaimer and obfuscation at the expense of content. This article, which defends checklist reports, would suggest that a properly annotated and detailed report might be effective in checklist form, that such a report might be easier to read and thus might communicate better than a narrative, and that both forms have strengths and weaknesses.

Rick Grant

Over the years, there has been controversy as to what is the best type of home inspection report: narrative or checklist. Certainly each well-seasoned professional inspector has his or her opinion on the subject. Each type of report has its strengths. Each also has its weaknesses. When you say "checklist" most inspectors think of a bland, watered down style of report which, above all, lacks detail.

If you consider the idea that inspection reports should be both accurate and concise, a conflict develops for the inspector. The inspector's client should be fully informed of the condition of the property in an effective manner and in easily understood terms. If the client's attention is lost through an endless series of pages or with foreign terms, the inspector falls short of the goal of efficient and effective report writing.

On the other hand, not providing enough detail leaves the client with a lack of adequate information and simultaneously exposes the inspector to potential litigation.

Finding the "middle of the road" often takes years of experience in report writing, unless you have the benefit of using one of the well designed reports available on the market today and unless you know how to use such a report properly.

Let's review some of the facets of both the narrative and the checklist reports:

Comments on Narrative Home Inspection Reports

The narrative report requires more words to communicate both good and bad parts of the property. The reason more words are needed is due to the phraseology required to complete full sentences in order to make the reading material flow in a professional manner. (The whole sentence needs to be read to fully understand the condition.)

Obviously more words means longer reports. Longer reports promotes a drop in concentration on the client's part. In addition to this, the narrative style makes it harder for the reader to scan the report to get a "feel" for the property and it's condition.

Comments on Checklist type Home Inspection Reports

Although inspection reports have come a long way in recent years, many checklist reports are still too brief in the description of the items, components and materials of a property and their condition. Many times they also don't describe the gray areas of inspection conditions. The gray areas are those conditions which are not black or white or cut and dry and therefore need more extensive and detailed description. This can present the inspector with a dilemma.

If standard phraseology can be used to describe a property's defects (and good conditions as well), without the inspector writing every single word, then we would accomplish our task: a short, efficient, easily read and yet meticulous report.

It seems to me that the best reports combine the narrative and the checklist together to create the "best of both worlds". If a checklist report permits both succinct problem identification and sufficient description of what the problem means to the buyer, then it can be very effective.

For example:

Roof:

Curling / buckling / broken / missing shingles

Shingles are worn and will need replacing soon

Low spots in the roofing - brace / replace roof

Gutters & Downspouts:

Missing sections need replacing

Bent / Damaged sections need repairs

Downspout extensions should be added as we discussed

 

In this example, words with slashes between them allow the inspector to circle the proper choice, followed by checking the box to complete the statement of condition.

Conclusion

The next time someone says "checklist" report, don't automatically assume it's not effective and efficient due to a lack of detail and when you hear the term narrative report, don't assume it can't be less than 30 pages to be accurate and to the point.

Share this Article      

...

Technical Reviewers & References

  • InspectAPedia.com® - Daniel Friedman
  • InspectAPedia Bookstore lists recommended books, organized by topic & available for purchase. Most of our articles also list books on the specific article topic as well as other references, and information sources.
  • Critique, contributions wanted: Contact Us to suggest corrections or additions to articles at this website, and if you wish, to receive online listing and credit as a contributor. Particular thanks are due to the many experts and also consumers who read and critique technical articles at InspectAPedia.com.
  • Additional technical contributors & reference sources for this article are listed below.

Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

Air Conditioning & Heat Pumps
Bookstore
Electrical
Environment
Exteriors
Heating
Home Inspection
  Inspector Directory
  Home Inspector Education
  Historic Homes, Home Improvement Costs, Research
  Home Inspection Company Franchises
  Home Inspection Definitions & Terms
  Home Inspection Report Guide
  Mobile Home Inspection Guide
  Checklists vs Narrative Reports
  How to Become a Home Inspector
Insulate Ventilate
Interiors
Mold Inspect/Test
Plumbing Water Septic
Roofing
Structure

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

  • Our recommended books about building design, inspection, and repair, and about indoor environment testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore.
  • Home Reference Book - Carson Dunlop
    • "The Home Reference Book - the encyclopedia of Homes", Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 2010, $69.00 U.S., is available from Carson Dunlop, or at Amazon.com and from the InspectAPedia bookstore. The 2010 edition of the Home Reference Book is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. InspectAPedia.com ® author/editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume.
  • ...

More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

    ...
InspectAPedia.comInspectAPedia® Home & Site Map - Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair, & Problem Prevention Advice: In-depth research & advice on diagnosing, testing, correcting, & preventing building defects & indoor environmental hazards. Unbiased information, no conflicts of interest.
GO TO the MOLD and INDOOR ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION CENTER for in-depth advice on avoiding testing for or cleaning up mold and other indoor environmental hazards, odors, gases, contaminants
The Mold Information Center:
What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems
GO TO MOLD TEST KITS: This expert-recommended mold test kit is cheap and yet top performing *IF* you use a competent analysis laboratory!
Use this simple, economical mold test kit
by following our instructions on how to collect and mail mold samples to our lab
GO TO IAQ/MOLD-TEST LAB SERVICES: Mold, Pollen, indoor air quality, field and laboratory services by an expert.Environmental Inspection, Testing, & Diagnosis On-Site IAQ, Gas, Air Testing, Mold Investigation, Sick Building Diagnosis, Lab Services, & Remediation Plan Preparation - indoor air quality testing, problem source determination, supporting lab work, written remediation plan addressing removal of environmental and other hazards and prevention of their recurrence.
GO TO our PRE PURCHASE BUILDING INSPECTION SERVICES: Authoritative information for home buyers and home owners is included with your inspection.
Building Inspection, Problem Diagnosis
, Forensic Investigation & Testing, Repair Consulting

CONTACT Daniel Friedman - Dan is a senior ASHI home inspector, nationally recognized expert on building inspection, building failures, and sick building investigation
Contact Daniel Friedman for website content suggestions or for fee-paid consulting

02/20/2010 - 09/22/1997 - InspectAPedia.com/ashi/reports.htm - © 2010 - 1988 Copyright Daniel Friedman All Rights Reserved - InspectAPedia® is a Registered U.S. Trademark