TOPIC: How do you call out defects in your reports?

;D ;D ;D

Realtor's discretion?  You would let some unknown, untrained person interpret your report?  First lesson.  There is no realtor in YOUR business.  There is no real estate contract in YOUR business.  During a contracted inspection between YOUR business and YOUR client, YOU decide what is a defect, not some used house salesperson.

You can play semantics all you want but based on your language, Items listed as Poor are defective.  Items listed as Major Concerns are defective.  Items listed as a Safety Hazard are defective.  It is like being a "little pregnant".  You either are or your aren't.  It is either defective or it isn't.  As a neutral observer, tell your client in clear, concise terms when something is defective.

What it comes down to is you supply your client with information on what items you have inspected that are defective.  When you use numerous vague definitions for the same thing, regardless of a legend or key to your comments, your client can become confused.  Confusion can lead to problems. 

I hear ya Stephen.

What terms do you use in your report?  Do you list things in sub categories ie. Safety Hazard, Poor...?  Or do you have just two categories Satisfactory and Defects?

Mike,

A question for you:  would your realtor(s) allow you to define aspects of their contracts for sale? 

How you run your business is your business...and I don't know it all, that's for sure...but the day I let a realtor have any discretion or say in my reports is the day I hang it up and go mow lawns for a living...

Casey,

I see your point.  I stand corrected  :-[

Is the inspection report a contract? 
 
How about you what terms do you use.  No one has answered that question yet.  I looked at a bunch of inspection reports and I only found one that called out things as defects and that was an old AHIT paper report.  Why is that?  Wouldn't this make things more clear for everyone involved?

How about a foundation wall or crack you are unsure about.  Say you defer it to a specialist and then how do you list it?  Do you say potential defect?

My inspection report is just that...a report.  It's not a contract, insurance policy, guarantee, warranty...you get my drift on this one...

My job is to look the structure and components over in short (relatively) amount of time, compile my findings in a concise (ha ha ha ha!) unbiased, understandable report...and present it to my client.

You have no need to "stand corrected"...everyone's entitled to their opinion...which is what you're getting from us. 

Be a good idea to list your contact info here...good for SEO and gives us a better idea of what area (and therefore, possible licensing issues) you're working in.  Everyone's friendly here (for the most part!).