The difference between “custom
narrative” and “generic checklist” reporting
systems
It is important to understand that not all reports are created
equal. The main difference between a custom narrative report
and a generic checklist report is how the condition of each
item and component is described. Checklist reports tend to
offer vague statements, such as “Good”, “Fair”,
or “Poor” without offering any real explanation
of what is wrong, whereas a custom narrative report allows
for a far more detailed and in-depth description.
Here’s one example of a generic checklist description:
Okay, the roof is in “fair” condition and has
two layers of shingles, but what does that mean? Are the shingles
worn out? Is there evidence of a roof leak? Is the roof near
the end of its lifecycle? Sure, the inspector may quickly
scribble down a few words of his own next to the checkbox,
but will he take the time to fully explain the problem with
the roof shingles? Who knows! In our opinion, this type of
reporting isn’t nearly detailed enough to be useful.
Some checklist reports include hundreds of pages of information
covering every possible problem and scenario imaginable. Although
these huge books look impressive, most of the information
provided has little or nothing to do with the house being
inspected. You will have little use for six pages of information
on hot water heating if the house you are considering buying
has a forced-air furnace, for example. Also, a four hundred-page
manual can be overwhelming and cumbersome to navigate when
you are trying to find the information pertinent to your house
in order to make a buying decision.
Now take a look at a narrative description of the same roof
observation:
Monitor: The asphalt singles covering the main
sloped roof are showing signs of wear and tear. We observed
some granular loss and slight shingle curl. At this time
there appears to be no need for repair, but the roof should
be monitored. Improvements may be necessary within a few
years.
We also observed that this roof has more than one layer
of shingles. This is commonly done to avoid the cost of
stripping the old shingles. Shingles that are installed
over an existing layer usually only achieve 60 to 80%
of the lifespan they would otherwise achieve if the old
roofing had been removed. When the roofing wears out,
all the shingle layers will have to be removed before
a new roof can be installed. Naturally, this will increase
the cost of the new roof. |
As you can see, the narrative description is written in
plain English, explains exactly what the inspector found,
and offers a course of action when re-roofing. And because
the report is generated on site with a laptop computer, the
inspector can insert digital photos and professionally rendered
technical drawings to augment his written observations. The
information is clear, concise, and specific to the house being
inspected.
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vs. Narrative Reports
