Should You Attend the Home Inspection?

22 September 2025

Attending a home inspection can help you understand the property, but the visit works best when the inspector can follow a safe and organized process. Agree on the format rather than assuming you should follow every step.

A practical approach

Ask whether questions are best handled during pauses, at the end or in a later call. Bring a concise list and record unfamiliar terms for clarification. Stay in ordinary accessible areas and respect the inspector's access decisions. If you cannot attend, arrange a structured review of the report instead of treating absence as a reason to accept unexplained findings.

Use the visit to understand the building

Ask the inspector how they prefer to handle attendance and questions. Some explanations are easier at the end of a room or system review than while equipment is being checked. Stay out of restricted spaces and do not follow anyone onto a roof, into an attic or into a crawlspace unless safe access has been explicitly established. Photographs and a later explanation are often sufficient.

Bring a short list of concerns rather than trying to evaluate every component independently. Ask the inspector to distinguish the observation from the possible cause and the recommended next step. For example, a stain is an observation; an active roof leak is a conclusion that needs supporting evidence. Taking that distinction home helps you read the final report accurately and ask better follow-up questions.

Prepare safe and practical access

An inspector can only evaluate areas that are safely accessible within the agreed scope. Stored boxes, locked doors, sealed hatches and disconnected utilities can limit the visit. The owner or authorized representative should arrange access in advance rather than expect the inspector to move heavy belongings or force a door. Keep pets managed and tell occupants how the visit will work.

Do not remove safety covers or open equipment in an attempt to help. Instead, clear ordinary walking routes and provide the relevant keys and records. If access is still restricted, ask for the limitation to be documented and consider a separate return visit. A clear explanation of what was not seen is more valuable than assuming an inaccessible area must be satisfactory.

Remote participation needs a clear communication plan

When a buyer or owner cannot attend, agree in advance how findings and questions will be handled. A scheduled call after the inspection can be more useful than a constant live video feed that interrupts the work. Ask for location-specific photographs and clear explanations of important limitations. Remote attendance does not remove the need for safe physical access.

Send a concise concern list before the visit and keep follow-up questions linked to report items. Do not ask the inspector to enter unsafe areas simply because a camera view is incomplete. If a specialist is recommended, arrange a suitable separate assessment rather than relying on a secondhand description. The goal is to preserve the quality of the inspection while making the result understandable to someone who was not in the building.

An example to work through

A buyer may join the final discussion to see the location of accessible controls and the main reported concerns. Questions about hidden areas can then be answered with photographs and an explanation of the inspection limitations.

What to check

Agree on when to ask questions.
Do not follow into unsafe areas.
Keep a short concern list.

Sources and further guidance

ASHI: home inspection scope and standards