National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE) · Home Inspection (All Domains)
National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE): Analysis of Findings and Reporting Concepts
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Overview
This chapter is about turning what you saw into a report the client can understand and act on. A good finding does three things: it describes what was observed, explains why it matters, and recommends a next step. The report is the product the client pays for, so clarity matters as much as accuracy.
Not every defect is equal. Safety issues and major defects that could be costly come first, while routine maintenance items come after. Inspectors are generalists, so when a problem needs deeper evaluation, the right recommendation is to have a qualified specialist look at it rather than guessing the repair.
Use plain words and specific locations. Say what you saw, not what you assume, and avoid vague phrases that leave the client unsure. State any areas you could not inspect and why, such as a locked door, stored items, or unsafe access.
Key concepts
Describe, implication, recommend
A clear finding states what was seen and where, explains what could happen if it is left alone, and tells the client what to do next and who should do it.
Memory tipWhat? So what? Now what?
Material defect
A problem with a system or component that may significantly affect the home's value or pose an unreasonable risk to people. It is not simply something old or cosmetic.
Memory tipOld is not the same as defective; ask if it really harms value or safety.
Safety vs. maintenance
Safety items can injure people, such as missing guards, exposed wiring, or a capped relief valve. Maintenance items are routine upkeep, such as caulking or cleaning gutters. Reports should make the difference obvious.
Memory tipPut safety first so the client cannot miss it.
Referral to a specialist
When a condition is outside a generalist's scope or needs testing, the inspector recommends evaluation by a qualified professional, such as a licensed electrician or structural engineer.
Memory tipRefer the problem; do not diagnose beyond what you saw.
Limitations
The report should name parts of the home that were not inspected or only partly inspected and give the reason, such as no access, snow cover, or utilities turned off.
Memory tipIf you didn't see it, say so and say why.
Often tested
- Every finding should state location, condition, why it matters, and the next step.
- Separate safety items and major defects from maintenance.
- Recommend a qualified specialist instead of guessing repair methods.
- Avoid vague words like "appears fine" without saying what was checked.
- List areas not inspected and the reasons.
Easy to confuse: Safety item vs. maintenance item
| Point | Safety item | Maintenance item |
|---|---|---|
| Risk | Can injure people | Wear that grows if ignored |
| Example | Missing deck guard, exposed wiring | Old caulk, dirty gutters |
| Report wording | Correct promptly by a qualified pro | Routine upkeep |
3 sample questions
Verified practice questions from this unit.
Question 1. A well-written defect statement in a home inspection report should typically include:
- ① A guarantee of the repair cost
- ② What was found, why it matters, and what should be done next
- ③ Only a photo, with no written comment
- ④ The inspector's opinion of the asking price
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Answer: ② What was found, why it matters, and what should be done next
Key point: Defect = observation + implication + recommendation
A clear defect statement has three parts: what the inspector saw and where (observation), why it matters (implication), and what to do about it (recommendation, often including who should do it). This helps the client understand and act.
Wrong choices
- Only a photo, with no written comment: Photos help, but the client also needs a description, the reason it matters, and a recommendation.
- The inspector's opinion of the asking price: Price opinions are outside the inspector's role.
- A guarantee of the repair cost: Inspectors do not guarantee repair costs.
Question 2. Which finding is best classified as a safety hazard rather than routine maintenance?
- ① A missing guard on a second-floor deck
- ② Peeling paint on exterior trim
- ③ A dripping faucet
- ④ A dirty furnace filter
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Answer: ① A missing guard on a second-floor deck
Key point: Fall hazards are safety issues, not maintenance
Reports often sort findings into safety hazards, major defects, and maintenance items. A missing guard on a raised deck creates a serious fall risk, so it is a safety hazard. Filters, paint, and drips are maintenance or minor repairs.
Wrong choices
- A dirty furnace filter: This is routine maintenance.
- Peeling paint on exterior trim: This is maintenance unless lead paint is a separate concern.
- A dripping faucet: This is a minor repair.
Question 3. When an inspector finds a likely structural problem beyond the scope of a general inspection, the report should:
- ① Give an exact repair design
- ② Leave it out to avoid worrying the client
- ③ Recommend evaluation by a qualified specialist, such as a structural engineer
- ④ Promise the problem is minor
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Answer: ③ Recommend evaluation by a qualified specialist, such as a structural engineer
Key point: Refer problems beyond scope to qualified specialists
A home inspector is a generalist. When a condition needs deeper evaluation, such as possible structural movement, the report should describe it and recommend evaluation by the right specialist. The inspector should not guess at the cause or the fix.
Wrong choices
- Promise the problem is minor: The inspector cannot know this without further evaluation.
- Give an exact repair design: Designing repairs is beyond the inspector's role.
- Leave it out to avoid worrying the client: Hiding findings fails the client.