Get through a long home inspection report one question at a time
A home inspection report can run to dozens of pages of findings, each with a location, a description, a severity and a recommendation, and the items that matter most to a buyer are mixed in with routine notes. Upload the report, digital or scanned, ask what you need to know before your contingency deadline, and open the cited finding to read the inspector's exact words.
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Last updated October 2026
How to review an inspection report with Search+
- Upload the report and any specialist reports
Add the general inspection plus any roof, sewer, structural or pest reports. Specialists often expand on items the general inspector flagged for further evaluation.
- Tell the workspace what you are deciding
In Workspace Context, write something like "Buyer deciding what to ask the seller to repair; group findings by safety, major systems and minor items." That applies to every question you ask.
- Ask by system or by severity
Ask about the roof, electrical, plumbing or heating, or ask for every item marked as a safety concern. Each answer cites the finding with its page when the report provides one.
Questions buyers ask about an inspection report
Which findings does the inspector describe as safety hazards?
What does the report say about the age and condition of the roof, furnace and water heater?
Which items does the inspector recommend having evaluated by a licensed specialist?
Are there any findings related to leaks, moisture, drainage or grading?
Which areas could the inspector not access or inspect, and why?
Which findings does the inspector say need repair or replacement, and which only need monitoring?
What reading an inspection report involves
Inspectors use their own categories, such as safety concern, repair, monitor or maintenance. Read how the report defines them before comparing items.
Reports state what was not inspected, such as areas that were blocked or systems outside the scope. Those limits are as important as the findings.
Many findings end with a recommendation to have a licensed contractor evaluate the issue. The general report may not say how serious it is.
What an inspection must cover depends on the inspector's standards of practice and the law where the property is.
Some inspectors still hand over scanned or printed-and-rescanned reports. Search+ reads those with OCR, and you can keep the report open beside the answers to look at the photos for each finding.
Every answer cites the excerpt it relied on. AI answers can miss items, so read the cited findings and the report's summary.
The parts of a typical inspection report and what to ask
| Report section | What it usually covers | A question to ask Search+ |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | The inspector's highlighted findings | What does the summary list as the most significant items? |
| Scope and limitations | What was and was not inspected | Which areas were not accessible? |
| Roof and exterior | Roofing, gutters, siding, grading | What is the reported condition of the roof covering? |
| Structure | Foundation, framing, crawlspace or basement | Are there signs of movement or water in the foundation? |
| Electrical | Service panel, wiring, outlets | Did the inspector note any electrical hazards? |
| Plumbing | Supply, drains, water heater | What does the report say about the water heater? |
| Heating and cooling | Furnace, air conditioning, ducts | Is servicing or evaluation of the HVAC system recommended? |
What is an inspection report?
A home inspection report is the written record of a visual inspection of a property's accessible systems and components, describing the conditions the inspector observed and recommending repairs, maintenance or further evaluation.
Inspection report questions
Can Search+ list the safety issues in my inspection report?
Can it tell me what the inspector recommends for each finding?
Can it help me prepare a repair request?
Can it read a sewer or roof report alongside the general one?
Is Search+ a substitute for an inspector's advice?
What if my inspector sent the report as a scan?
Know what the inspector found before your deadline
Start a workspace, upload the inspection report, and ask about the findings that matter to you.
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