A home inspector communicates the visual evidence of conditions of the systems and components of a home to a client so the client can make an informed purchase. While our audiences differ, our primary job remains the same: communication.
The similarities do not end there. During a trial I usually have three opportunities to communicate on behalf of my client. I get to speak to the jury during my opening and closing statements and through the evidence presented during trial. Inspectors also have three opportunities to communicate with a client. They speak through the pre-inspection agreement and the home inspection report, and verbally.
Everyone wants to be good at their profession. If your profession is communication, your goals should include being an effective communicator. It’s not enough to be the best at detecting defects in a home. No matter what you find if you cannot effectively communicate it to the client, in a way the client understands, you are not doing your job.
The pre-inspection agreement is usually the first communication from you to the client. Effective agreements define the scope of the inspection for the client, identify the standards of practice being used by the inspector, and alert the client to specific legal defenses the inspector will rely on in the event of a claim.
The home inspection report communicates by disclosing the systems and components designated for inspection that were present at the time of the inspection. It identifies systems and components which were present but not inspected and the reason. It identifies what defects were found and the significance of the findings. Finally, it provides recommendations where appropriate to have a condition inspected by a qualified professional, tradesperson and/or service technician.