Varies from each inspector. Most of the inspectors I use deliver the report the same day as the inspection. Occasionally an inspector will deliver the next day. Find out from your inspector when the report will be completed.

24 hours is sufficient.

Are you the buyer or seller? If buyer pays for the inspection, he doesn't have to provide seller with a copy.

Most general inspectors prefer to work with the client/buyer with them so they can point out things as they go, a sort of verbal report that will get written up.

My experience is that inspectors dislike when the buyer follows them around as he/she is doing their job. My last two inspectors have asked that the buyers stay away until the end of the inspection, and at that time they go over the inspection findings with them in detail.

I tell these inspectors that I will let the buyers know their preference, but since the buyers are paying for it, then they can do as pleased. If the buyers do want to poke around around during the entire inspection, I ask them to let the inspector alone to do his work, and ensure them that he will go over everything when he is finished.

Get new inspectors. Both here in PA, and back in CA, where I've bought/sold houses for 45 years, every general inspector wants to talk to the client. Maybe not specialized inspectors (chimney, roof, septic, etc), but the general inspectors. I'm sorry to hear that isn't the norm where you live.

No one wants to be followed around while at work. That includes the realtor being followed around by the seller to editorialize, and the home inspector by the buyer turning a 2 hour job into a 3 hour one.A buyer is entitled to the pictures and report. And a conversation about interpreting them. They are not due hand holding and explanations during the process. The HI would need to charge a double fee, and book that extra time into their calendar.

^Exactly. In addition to that, the inspector will call the buyer over to look if the item is significant. The summary (when the inspection is finished) is where the inspector goes over each and every exception in the inspection with the buyers verbally onsite. The report is detailed with photos and is provided to the buyer the same day or the next day after the inspection. The inspector doesn't want either the Realtors or the buyers interfering with his work process but will stay to answer questions after the verbal summary until the buyer is satisfied they understand.

And every realtor I know or have worked with expects the inspector to work with the buyer. When we bought this house, there was a lot that was unfamiliar for us, coming from California to PA and real winters. The inspector was great about care maintenance of many things. (Who knew to turn off the outside water spigots in winter?)

Buyers can usually can expect a preliminary report via email within 24-to 48 hours. If there are any specialized tests that require lab reports, they make take a little longer. If you are a seller, it's up to the seller if you see the report. It's their report. Myself, I don't want to see it. I just want to know what you may want to have repaired.

When we bought our first home, my DH followed our inspector around. The inspector was also a structural engineer and was the best inspector we have ever used. Everyone in town used him because he was so good. My DH even followed him under the house in the crawl space.

The inspector viewed the education of a new homeowner as part of his job. Fast forward to three years later. The same inspector was called when we sold the home. He was astonished to see that all, and I mean, all of his suggestions had been implemented. We used him on a subsequent home, too. That time, we didn't follow him quite as closely. We knew he was thorough.

Here's the deal, if I hire a home inspector, I expect to follow him wherever I damn well please. While I won't get in his way, I will be asking questions as he proceeds and I will expect complete answers. If he has a problem with that arrangement, he's dismissed.

I'm an appraiser and I work for the lender. I don't work for the buyer or the seller. In reality, I hope the seller and the buyer are not home. This is because it will take extra time for me to interact with them. If they are present, I will be friendly, respectful and take the time to answer their questions. They can even hold my measuring tape for me if they want to. I have nothing to hide. I will cheerfully explain to them what I am doing. It's part of the job.

Mr. Inspector needs to get over himself. If you pay for it, you get to make the rules.

Do we ever discuss how little a home inspector is liable for? If you get a bad apple, you might be able to get a refund of the fee.

A refunded fee was not going to remedy the sinking foundation of an addition that our HI 'didn't notice'. It was visible from the exterior -- and from the condition of the (inoperable) double hung windows in the addition. Two contractors we contacted about remodeling the house saw this immediately -- after we'd closed on the house.

Lesson to dumb, young buyers: A seller can bribe a HI with very little money. You won't be able to prove it. You won't be able to recover more than the fee.