[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/what-we-look-for-and-what-we-dont-get-the-most-out-of-your-inspection-report\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/what-we-look-for-and-what-we-dont-get-the-most-out-of-your-inspection-report\/","headline":"What We Look For (And What We Don\u2019t): Get the Most Out of Your Inspection Report","name":"What We Look For (And What We Don\u2019t): Get the Most Out of Your Inspection Report","description":"What We Look For (And What We Don\u2019t): Get the Most Out of Your Inspection Report The reason I always walk through the report with you at the end of the inspection is because I want you to actually *use* it. This isn\u2019t a technical manual. It\u2019s a working document\u2014a tool to help you make smart decisions about your next move. Think of your home inspection like a visit to a general practitioner. I\u2019m here to run a visual evaluation, check your vital signs, and flag anything that seems off. I\u2019ll tell you when I think it\u2019s time to call a plumber, roofer, electrician, or even a structural engineer. But I\u2019m not the specialist. I\u2019m the first step. This Isn\u2019t the End\u2014It\u2019s the Beginning I know it can feel like once the inspection\u2019s done, the work is over. But in reality, this is just where things get moving. You\u2019ll want to review the report carefully and follow up on any flagged issues, especially the ones marked as safety hazards or \u201cfurther evaluation recommended.\u201d Need an HVAC tech to scope a unit? A roofer to look at flashing? An electrician to confirm panel capacity? That\u2019s the next step. I\u2019ve pointed the flashlight in the right direction. Now it\u2019s time to hand it off to the right person. What I\u2019m Looking For\u2014And What I\u2019m Not \u2705 I\u2019m looking for: symptoms, visible damage, or evidence of failure\u2014things I can observe and test within the scope of a general home inspection. \u274c I\u2019m not looking for: permit violations, code compliance, trade-specific installation specs, or what your city might say if you start knocking down walls. That\u2019s beyond my role\u2014and yours, until you close. Also, I\u2019m not opening walls, removing access panels, or operating shutoff valves. That\u2019s for liability, yes\u2014but also for respect. This house still belongs to someone else, and I treat it like I would want mine treated by a stranger with a flashlight and tablet. The Inspection Report Is a Compass\u2014Not a Verdict I\u2019m not here to tell you whether to buy the house. That\u2019s your call. My job is to give you clarity about what you\u2019re walking into. If the water heater\u2019s old, I\u2019ll tell you. If the roof is missing flashing, I\u2019ll show you. But whether that\u2019s a dealbreaker or a DIY project? That\u2019s up to you and your comfort level. You might walk away from a house because the garage is cracked. Or you might buy it and fix it yourself with a $10 bag of concrete mix. Both are valid. My job is to give you the facts. Your job is to make the decision. FAQs: How to Actually Use Your Inspection Report Is the inspection report a pass\/fail document? Nope. There\u2019s no score. I don\u2019t \u201cpass\u201d or \u201cfail\u201d a house. I report what I see, flag issues, and recommend action steps. The report is a guide\u2014not a yes\/no answer. What do I do after reading the report? Review it carefully, and follow up on any items marked as safety concerns, major defects, or \u201cfurther evaluation needed.\u201d Bring in licensed tradespeople where required. Think of it like triage\u2014handle the serious stuff first, then the cosmetic. Are inspectors allowed to give repair estimates or do the work? No. InterNACHI standards prohibit inspectors from quoting repairs or doing the work themselves. It\u2019s a conflict of interest. My role is to observe and report\u2014not to fix or profit from the findings. Should I share this report with contractors or trades? Yes, absolutely. Most specialists appreciate it. It helps them know what we saw and what we flagged. Just remember\u2014they\u2019ll still want to do their own diagnostic work before giving quotes or starting repairs. \u2192 Next up: Post 6: How to Get The Most Out Of Your Inspection Report \u2190 Previously: Post 4: Why Elevation Photos Matter in Your Home Inspection Report Curious what it\u2019s like to schedule your own home inspection with us?","datePublished":"2025-06-30","dateModified":"2025-06-30","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/author\/curtis\/#Person","name":"Kloc Curtis","url":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/author\/curtis\/","identifier":6,"description":"Curtis Kloc is a U.S. Navy veteran and seasoned entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in business development, inspections, and technical systems. He has built and sold multiple six- and seven-figure home inspection and environmental services companies, including HERO Inspections & Environmental and Elite Analysis. Curtis is the founder of Inspections Over Coffee, a nationally expanding franchise known for its white-glove service, inspector training systems, and streamlined operational workflows.\r\n\r\nWith deep roots in nuclear engineering from his time as a Machinist Mate and Engineering Laboratory Technician aboard two U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, Curtis brings unmatched precision and discipline to every business he runs. He is certified and licensed in home inspection, mold assessment, asbestos inspection, and environmental testing, and is a member of NACHI since 2006. Curtis now leads AI automation initiatives through Nexation.ai, helping businesses eliminate busywork and refocus on what matters most\u2014client relationships, growth, and results.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1630069397452.webp","url":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1630069397452.webp","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Person","name":"Curtis Kloc","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/site-logo.png","url":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/site-logo.png","width":512,"height":512}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/home-inspection-blog-6.png","url":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/home-inspection-blog-6.png","height":736,"width":1312},"url":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/what-we-look-for-and-what-we-dont-get-the-most-out-of-your-inspection-report\/","about":["Uncategorized"],"wordCount":693,"articleBody":"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat We Look For (And What We Don\u2019t): Get the Most Out of Your Inspection ReportThe reason I always walk through the report with you at the end of the inspection is because I want you to actually *use* it. This isn\u2019t a technical manual. It\u2019s a working document\u2014a tool to help you make smart decisions about your next move.Think of your home inspection like a visit to a general practitioner. I\u2019m here to run a visual evaluation, check your vital signs, and flag anything that seems off. I\u2019ll tell you when I think it\u2019s time to call a plumber, roofer, electrician, or even a structural engineer. But I\u2019m not the specialist. I\u2019m the first step.This Isn\u2019t the End\u2014It\u2019s the BeginningI know it can feel like once the inspection\u2019s done, the work is over. But in reality, this is just where things get moving. You\u2019ll want to review the report carefully and follow up on any flagged issues, especially the ones marked as safety hazards or \u201cfurther evaluation recommended.\u201dNeed an HVAC tech to scope a unit? A roofer to look at flashing? An electrician to confirm panel capacity? That\u2019s the next step. I\u2019ve pointed the flashlight in the right direction. Now it\u2019s time to hand it off to the right person.What I\u2019m Looking For\u2014And What I\u2019m Not  \u2705 I\u2019m looking for: symptoms, visible damage, or evidence of failure\u2014things I can observe and test within the scope of a general home inspection.  \u274c I\u2019m not looking for: permit violations, code compliance, trade-specific installation specs, or what your city might say if you start knocking down walls. That\u2019s beyond my role\u2014and yours, until you close.Also, I\u2019m not opening walls, removing access panels, or operating shutoff valves. That\u2019s for liability, yes\u2014but also for respect. This house still belongs to someone else, and I treat it like I would want mine treated by a stranger with a flashlight and tablet.The Inspection Report Is a Compass\u2014Not a VerdictI\u2019m not here to tell you whether to buy the house. That\u2019s your call. My job is to give you clarity about what you\u2019re walking into. If the water heater\u2019s old, I\u2019ll tell you. If the roof is missing flashing, I\u2019ll show you. But whether that\u2019s a dealbreaker or a DIY project? That\u2019s up to you and your comfort level.You might walk away from a house because the garage is cracked. Or you might buy it and fix it yourself with a $10 bag of concrete mix. Both are valid. My job is to give you the facts. Your job is to make the decision.FAQs: How to Actually Use Your Inspection ReportIs the inspection report a pass\/fail document?Nope. There\u2019s no score. I don\u2019t \u201cpass\u201d or \u201cfail\u201d a house. I report what I see, flag issues, and recommend action steps. The report is a guide\u2014not a yes\/no answer.What do I do after reading the report?Review it carefully, and follow up on any items marked as safety concerns, major defects, or \u201cfurther evaluation needed.\u201d Bring in licensed tradespeople where required. Think of it like triage\u2014handle the serious stuff first, then the cosmetic.Are inspectors allowed to give repair estimates or do the work?No. InterNACHI standards prohibit inspectors from quoting repairs or doing the work themselves. It\u2019s a conflict of interest. My role is to observe and report\u2014not to fix or profit from the findings.Should I share this report with contractors or trades?Yes, absolutely. Most specialists appreciate it. It helps them know what we saw and what we flagged. Just remember\u2014they\u2019ll still want to do their own diagnostic work before giving quotes or starting repairs.\u2192 Next up: Post 6: How to Get The Most Out Of Your Inspection Report\u2190 Previously: Post 4: Why Elevation Photos Matter in Your Home Inspection ReportCurious what it\u2019s like to schedule your own home inspection with us?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"What We Look For (And What We Don\u2019t): Get the Most Out of Your Inspection Report","item":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/what-we-look-for-and-what-we-dont-get-the-most-out-of-your-inspection-report\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]