Home Inspection Report Template: the 12 Sections of a Complete Report
What should a pre-purchase inspection report contain to protect your client — and protect you? Here is the structure experienced inspectors use in Quebec, section by section, with what belongs in each.
An inspection report is not just another document. It is the written record of your work, your client's reference for negotiating or deciding, and the exhibit that will resurface if a dispute arises years later. Its structure is not a matter of style — it is a matter of rigour.
Quebec's professional associations each provide their own canvas, and the practice standards commonly used in the trade converge on the same skeleton. Always check your association's specific requirements — but if you are starting from scratch, the 12 sections below cover the essentials of a pre-purchase inspection report.
The structure of a complete inspection report
1. Cover page
Full property address, date and time of the inspection, weather conditions, client name, your name, contact information and business number. Weather is not decorative: a dry crack on a rainy day and a basement inspected during a drought do not tell the same story.
2. Scope and limitations
The most important section for your own protection. What the inspection covers, what it does not, what was inaccessible (and why), and the visual, non-destructive nature of the examination. Every inaccessible room and every unverifiable component must be recorded with its reason.
3. Summary of key findings
The major findings on one or two pages, ranked by priority: fix without delay, have evaluated by a specialist, monitor. Most clients will only read this section carefully — it must be flawless and point to the detailed sections.
4. Roof and exterior
Roof covering, flashing, gutters, chimney, wall cladding, doors and windows, balconies, grading and drainage. For each observation: the component, its precise location, the observed condition, and the recommendation.
5. Structure and foundation
Visible foundations, cracks (location, orientation, width), beams, columns, joists, signs of movement or water infiltration. This is the section buyers scrutinize most during negotiation: precise measurements and photos count double here.
6. Plumbing
Water entry, piping materials, water heater (age, capacity, condition), pressure, drains, signs of active or past leaks.
7. Electrical
Panel capacity, wiring type, grounding, tested outlets and switches, GFCI protection, visible anomalies.
8. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning
System type, apparent age, visible maintenance, distribution, attic and bathroom ventilation, air exchanger.
9. Insulation and attic
Insulation type and approximate thickness, vapour barrier, signs of condensation or visible mould, attic ventilation.
10. Interior
Walls, ceilings, floors, stairs, windows, doors, basement, bathroom, kitchen — room by room, with photos attached to each observation.
11. Photos and appendices
Every significant observation deserves its photo, annotated and attached to the right section. A report where photos are dumped in bulk at the end loses the reader — and weakens your case in a dispute.
12. Conclusion, recommendations and signature
Recap of priorities, follow-up recommendations (specialists to consult, periodic checks), general limitations, date and signature. Some inspectors add a glossary of technical terms: your clients will thank you.
The three mistakes that weaken a report
- Empty or "N/A" sections with no explanation. A component that was not inspected must always come with its reason — inaccessible, out of season, out of scope.
- Orphan photos. A photo with no caption and no linked observation proves nothing.
- Internal contradictions. A roof "in good condition" in section 4 but "to be evaluated" in the summary: the classic inconsistency a lawyer looks for first.
Why a template is no longer enough
A report template — Word, PDF or inside software — organizes your work. It does not do it. With a classic template, the sequence stays the same: you inspect for 2 to 3 hours, then spend 4 to 6 hours sorting photos, transcribing notes, filling each section and proofreading everything.
That is exactly the work modern inspection software moves into the inspection itself. You dictate an observation in the field — "north-side foundation, vertical crack about two millimetres, no visible infiltration, monitor" — and it files itself in the right section, with the photo attached. By the time you leave the building, the report already exists; all that remains is to review it.
To compare approaches, see our comparison of inspection software available in Quebec — including what a traditional template does well, and what it will never do.
The report that writes itself during the inspection
DomiSpect turns your dictation into structured observations, attaches your photos and reviews the full report before you sign.
See how reports work