Home Inspection Process

1. Start with the property and the timing

Before requesting an appointment, have the property address, approximate size and age, property type, and your preferred inspection window ready. Let us know about any particular concerns and whether you’re buying, preparing to list, or arranging a different inspection service.

Tell us if the property has a private well, septic system, detached buildings or access limitations. If you’re considering services such as radon testing, WDI/termite inspection or sewer scope, discuss them before the appointment so the scope can be coordinated. They should not be assumed to be included in a standard home inspection.

An appointment request is the start of coordination. Confirm the agreed services, price, access arrangements and appointment with your inspector. If your transaction has an inspection deadline, share it early and confirm the timing with your agent.

Before booking, you can review our service pricing and residential inspection Standards of Practice.

2. Get the property ready

Buyers and agents should coordinate access with the listing side. Sellers and occupants can help by making the property safely accessible and sharing known access restrictions in advance.

Useful preparation includes:

• Clear normal access routes to the areas and equipment included in the inspection, such as the attic entry, electrical panel, heating equipment and water heater.
• Arrange access to locked areas and keep pets secure.
• Confirm utility status with the appropriate responsible party. Do not turn on an unsafe, winterized or disconnected system yourself; tell the inspector about it first.
• Gather available service records and information about recent work that may help explain the property’s systems.
• Mention anything that cannot be reached or operated so limitations can be discussed and documented.

Please do not climb onto a roof, enter an unsafe space, remove electrical covers or move heavy equipment to prepare. Let us know about the limitation instead.

3. Make the inspection useful to you

Ask about attending and how questions will be handled for your appointment. Bring the concerns you want the inspector to understand, and allow room for the inspection to proceed safely.

The inspection follows the agreed scope and the conditions present at the time. Some areas may be concealed, inaccessible or outside that scope. A home inspection is not a promise that every future problem can be predicted.

Useful questions include: “What does this finding mean?”, “Is further evaluation recommended?”, “What could not be inspected?” and “What should I learn about maintaining this system?”

4. Read the report—not just the summary

Start with the overview, then read the findings and limitations in context. Note the location of an item, what was observed, and the recommendation. If wording is unclear, ask your inspector to explain it before turning it into a repair request.

TMK uses photos and can include short video clips when they help explain a finding. Not every item needs a video, and a clip does not replace the written description or inspection limitations. These tools help you see what the inspector is describing.

For a preview, download the sample residential report (PDF). A PDF is useful for reading and saving. The interactive HomeGauge report is a different experience and is the route used for supported request-list features; the static PDF does not provide those tools.

5. Separate questions, further evaluation and maintenance

Not every report item calls for the same next step. Some findings need clarification, some recommend evaluation by a qualified specialist, and others help you plan maintenance. Ask your inspector to explain the distinction in the context of the actual report.

If more information or a quote is needed, coordinate it with the appropriate professional and your agent. Avoid assuming that a short description or video is enough to establish repair cost, the complete extent of a concealed condition, or the best repair method.

Keep a short list of unanswered questions. It is easier to have a useful conversation when each question points to the specific report item.

6. Use HomeGauge to organize the discussion

TMK uses HomeGauge Create Request List. Buyers and their authorized agents can use supported interactive reports to select findings and organize requests, rather than manually rebuilding a list from scattered screenshots. HomeGauge’s current guidance explains how to review and export that list.

Read the report first. Decide with your agent what needs to be discussed, keep the original finding in context, and check the list before it is shared. Do not assume that creating a list sends it to the seller or makes it an agreed repair obligation.

For help with the software, see HomeGauge’s current Create Request List instructions or its agent video guide.

7. Discuss the response with your agent and the listing side

The inspector explains observed conditions and the report’s recommendations. Your agent—and an attorney when appropriate—helps you work through the transaction’s response process, timing and documents. The inspection report or request list is not a substitute for those documents.

Before a request goes to the listing side, check that it clearly identifies the report item and location, preserves the finding’s meaning, and separates the requested action from the inspector’s original recommendation. Where further evaluation is recommended, avoid rewriting that as a confirmed diagnosis or a guaranteed repair price.

Sellers and listing agents can use the same references to understand what is being discussed, obtain appropriate clarification or evaluation, and document their proposed response through the transaction’s normal channels. Inspection questions and negotiation decisions are different conversations, even when they concern the same item.

There is no universal list of repairs a seller must make, or response deadline supplied by this guide. The parties should confirm their obligations and choices with their transaction professionals.

8. Keep the follow-up organized

If further evaluations or repairs are arranged, keep the related reports, work descriptions and invoices together. Ask what remains unresolved and who is responsible for the next step.

If you would like an item revisited, ask about reinspection availability, scope, access and any separate fee before relying on it. A revisit may be limited to particular items; it should not be assumed to repeat the entire inspection or guarantee all work.

After the transaction, the report can also help you organize maintenance questions and future projects. Keep the full report, not just the negotiated request list.

Buying through NACA?

Cainen Bedsaul is listed among NACA’s approved home inspectors. If you’re purchasing through NACA, mention that before booking so we can confirm the property, required services and reporting process. You can check the official NACA inspector directory.

NACA’s requirements and review process are separate from a general inspection appointment. Confirm current program instructions with NACA and your counselor; an inspector’s directory listing is not a guarantee of property or financing approval.