Due to a shortage of homes for sale in many areas, some many listing agents and vendors are making available an inspection report to all prospective buyers (known as a pre-listing inspection report). Offers can then be presented clean (ie. not conditional on a home inspection ) and saves prospective buyers the cost of hiring their own inspector.

Should you rely on such a report? Depends…..

Are they a registered home inspector (RHI designation)?

How informative is the report? Checklist style reports are often difficult to interpret. Are rough cost estimates provided for major defects? Are you able to speak to the inspector that performed the inspection?

One major benefit of hiring your own inspector is that you will be able to walk through the house with the inspector, ask questions, and hear/see the findings firsthand.