What We Look For (And What We Don’t): Why Elevation Photos Matter in Your Home Inspection Report
The reason I always include elevation photos in your inspection report is because a picture of every side of the house is worth way more than a thousand words. It's not just for show—it’s about documentation, defensibility, and holding the process accountable, both to you and ourselves.
Every Angle Tells Its Own Story
I take wide photos of the front, rear, left, and right elevations of the property. Why? Because drainage, siding wear, paint condition, roof lines, landscaping issues—they don’t all show up from the front porch.
The sun hits each side of the house differently. Water drains toward different corners. You might have pristine siding on one side and peeling paint with moisture intrusion on the other. Without a full exterior sweep, you don’t get the whole picture—literally.
It’s Not Just for You—It’s for Us, Too
Elevation photos are part of how we maintain quality control, especially with newer inspectors. During training, I’ll often go back and review the elevation shots. Did they catch the sagging gutter on the north side? Did they notice the grading slope to the east?
It helps me coach newer team members, tighten up consistency, and spot where someone might be moving too fast. It’s also how we build trust inside the team—every inspector documents what they saw, from every angle, every time.
What I’m Looking For—And What I’m Not
- ✅ I’m looking for: visible signs of wear, improper drainage slopes, water staining, exterior maintenance issues, unprotected wood, sagging trim, or siding movement.
- ❌ I’m not looking for: perfection, paint colors, or trying to match a “design standard.” I’m documenting condition, not critiquing curb appeal.
I’m also not evaluating property lines or surveying the land. If a tree looks like it’s leaning over your neighbor’s fence, that might be worth calling a pro—but it’s not something I verify. I focus on what’s attached to the house, not the lot itself.
Visual Evidence = Peace of Mind
Let’s be real: things can go sideways after closing. Maybe a storm hits. Maybe the seller says “that hole wasn’t there before.” Elevation photos give us time-stamped, no-debate documentation of the exterior as it looked on inspection day. It protects you—and it protects us.
We’ve had situations where a client reached out months later about a grading issue or siding bulge. One look at the elevation photo and we could say, “Yep, that was there,” or, “Nope, that’s new.” It’s not about blame—it’s about being able to verify what was visible when we were there.
FAQs: What Elevation Photos Show (and Why They Matter)
What exactly is an elevation photo?
An elevation photo is a wide shot of one full side of the home—from ground to roofline—taken from a distance that allows us to capture overall condition, slope, and layout. We take photos of all four sides: front, back, left, and right.
Why are these photos useful to the buyer?
They show deferred maintenance (like peeling paint or wood rot), structural alignment (like leaning decks or bowed walls), and environmental risks (like poor drainage or soil slope). These things aren’t always obvious up close.
Do you use these photos for internal quality control?
Yes. Especially with new inspectors, we review their elevation photos as part of training and QA. It helps ensure they’re catching key issues and covering every angle of the house. Consistency matters.
Can these photos help if there’s a dispute later?
Absolutely. Elevation shots are timestamped proof of what the exterior looked like on inspection day. If someone claims damage occurred before or during closing, this is objective documentation that supports you.
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