Most buyers assume the inspection report is a simple pass/fail — a list of things broken or not broken. That’s not quite how it works, and understanding the difference matters when you’re deciding whether to move forward on a property.
What a Home Inspection Actually Does
A home inspection is a visual assessment of accessible systems and components at a single point in time. The inspector walks through the property, observes what’s visible, and reports on conditions that deviate from normal function or that carry some risk of failure or safety concern.
What it doesn’t do: predict the future, inspect behind walls, evaluate septic or well systems (those are separate), or tell you whether the price is fair. Those are separate questions.
How to Read the Report
Most digital inspection reports organize findings by system — roof, structure, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and so on. Within each system, findings are typically flagged by severity: safety concerns, defects, maintenance items, and informational notes.
A common mistake is treating every flagged item as equal. A missing handrail and a failing heat exchanger are both “defects” in the report, but they’re not remotely similar in terms of urgency or cost. Your inspector should be able to help you understand which findings actually matter for your decision.
What Makes a Builder-Trained Inspector Different
An inspector who has built and renovated homes brings a different lens to the work. When I see deteriorated flashing at a roof penetration, I’m not just noting that it exists — I’m thinking about how the water is likely moving, where it’s probably showing up inside the wall cavity, and what it takes to actually fix it correctly rather than just apply caulk and hope.
That context is what makes the difference between a report that’s technically accurate and one that’s actually useful. For buyers in Nashua, Keene, Concord, and throughout NH and VT, that distinction matters — especially in a market where older housing stock is common and deferred maintenance is the rule rather than the exception.
Questions to Ask During the Inspection
If your inspector allows you to attend (and you should always attend if possible), come with a few questions prepared:
- What’s the approximate age of the major systems — roof, HVAC, water heater?
- Are there any findings that would affect your ability to get standard homeowner’s insurance?
- Which items on this list would you address first if you were buying this house?
- Is there anything you couldn’t fully evaluate today that you’d want a specialist to look at?
Good inspectors welcome questions. If yours discourages them, that’s worth noting.
The Report Is a Starting Point, Not a Final Answer
Use the report as a tool for your decision-making, not as a definitive verdict. Every older house has issues. The question isn’t whether issues exist — it’s whether they’re the kind you can live with, budget for, or negotiate around.
If you have questions about a specific finding or want to talk through what a report means before or after your inspection, feel free to reach out.
Need a home inspection in New Hampshire or Vermont?
Resonant Homes provides licensed inspections backed by 20 years of building and contracting experience. I tell you what’s wrong, why it happened, and what fixing it actually involves.