What must a home inspection report clearly identify?

A home inspection report must clearly identify the systems and components that were observed during the inspection process. This requirement is critical as it provides a comprehensive overview of the property's condition, allowing the homeowner, potential buyer, or real estate agent to understand which parts of the home were examined and what their current state is.

The report serves as an essential tool in real estate transactions, providing transparency regarding the property's systems, such as the electrical, plumbing, HVAC, roofing, and structure. By clearly identifying these elements, the report enables stakeholders to make informed decisions based on the documented observations.

In contrast, personal opinions of the home inspector, while they may provide context, should not be included as they can introduce bias and detract from the objective nature of the inspection report. The historical background of the building may be interesting but is typically irrelevant to the current condition of the property and therefore not a requirement for the inspection report. Likewise, while cost estimates for repairs may be useful information, they are not essential elements that must be specified separately in the report itself. The focus should remain on factual observations regarding the condition of the systems and components.