Understanding Your Home Inspection Report: What It Is — and What It Isn’t
- Jose Lopez Santiago
- Dec 1, 2025
- 3 min read
By L7 Home Inspections
When you schedule a home inspection with L7 Home Inspections, you’re making one of the smartest investments in your real estate journey. Whether you’re buying, selling, or maintaining your current home, the inspection report is a powerful tool that helps you make informed decisions. But many clients still wonder: What exactly is an inspection report? What can I do with it? What can’t I do with it?
This guide breaks it all down clearly, so you know exactly how to use your report with confidence.
What an Inspection Report Is
A home inspection report is a snapshot of the property’s condition at the time of the inspection. It outlines visible and accessible components and notes any deficiencies, safety concerns, or areas of deferred maintenance.
Your report will typically include:
Structural components
Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems
Roof covering and attic conditions
Appliances
Interior and exterior issues
Safety hazards
Photos and notes of all findings
Our goal at L7 Home Inspections is to provide clear, photo-rich, and easy-to-understand information so you can move forward with confidence.
Understanding Inspector Recommendations
Every deficiency listed in a report includes an inspector’s recommendation. These recommendations help you understand:
The severity of an issue
Whether it is a safety concern
If a specialist should evaluate or repair
Whether the issue should be addressed before closing, after moving in, or simply monitored
But here’s the key:
Inspector recommendations are just that — recommendations.
They are not requirements, not directives, and not demands. They guide you, your agent, and other professionals so you can map out the best plan for repairs, negotiations, or future maintenance.
What an Inspection Report Is Not
It’s equally important to understand what a home inspection report does not do.
❌ It is not a pass/fail test
Homes don’t “pass” or “fail.” Even brand-new construction homes have imperfections or items needing attention.
❌ It does not force the seller to make repairs
This is one of the biggest misconceptions among buyers.
A seller is NOT obligated to repair items found during the inspection.
Your report serves as information, not a repair list for the seller.
❌ It is not a code compliance inspection
Home inspectors do not enforce building codes. We report on current visible conditions, safety concerns, and functional deficiencies.
❌ It is not a warranty or guarantee
A home inspection is a non-invasive, visual assessment — not a prediction of future performance.
What You Can Do With Your Inspection Report
✔ Use it to negotiate wisely
Your agent may help you request concessions, repairs, or price adjustments based on major issues.
✔ Use it to plan future maintenance
Not all deficiencies require immediate action. Many are simple homeowner maintenance items you can address over time.
✔ Use it to protect your investment
The report helps you understand what you’re buying — which areas are strong and which ones may require attention down the road.
What You Can’t Expect From the Report
❌ You can’t require the seller to fix everything
Repairs are 100% negotiable, not mandatory.
❌ You can’t expect perfection
All homes — even new builds — have issues.
❌ You can’t use the report as a construction plan
It is a summary, not a detailed scope of work for contractors.
The Bottom Line
Your L7 Home Inspections report is designed to educate and empower you. It is a tool — not a demand document. Our mission is to help you make informed decisions, understand the property’s true condition, and feel confident in your next steps.
If you have questions after your inspection, we are always here to help you understand your findings and recommendations.
L7 Home Inspections — Where Precision Meets Integrity in Every Inspection
📞 (573) 586-9694
📍 Serving the Waco–Temple–Killeen–Belton Region
Veteran-Owned • Bilingual Services Available
Comments