What a home inspection estimate is for
Buyers ask for an inspection price before they know what they need. A quote that lists the full inspection by size, each add-on with what it checks, and what is not included helps them choose quickly under a contract deadline, and sets clear expectations about what the report will and will not cover.
What to put on a home inspection estimate
- Home size, age and type.
- Full inspection price.
- Each add-on and what it checks.
- What the inspection does not cover.
- When the report is delivered.
- Fee paid at booking.
A worked example
A buyer's 2,000 sq ft home built in 1985, with a crawl space and a sewer line old enough to scope. The full inspection uses the calculator's typical price.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full home inspection, 2,000 sq ft * | 1 | each | $430.00 | $430.00 |
| Crawl space or basement | 1 | each | Your price | |
| Sewer scope | 1 | each | Your price | |
| Radon test | 1 | each | Your price |
Say when the report will be delivered. On a contract deadline, that date matters as much as the price.
* Typical price from our free home inspection cost calculator, which lists its sources. Your own costs and market come first.
Line items home inspectors use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Full home inspection | each | Home size and age. |
| Crawl space or basement | each | Access and condition. |
| Detached garage or outbuilding | each | Per building. |
| Radon test | each | Test type and pickup; where licensed. |
| Sewer scope | each | Main line camera inspection. |
| Termite inspection | each | Where licensed or by a partner. |
| Thermal imaging | each | Areas scanned. |
| Pre-listing inspection | each | For the seller, before listing. |
| 4-point inspection | each | Roof, electrical, plumbing and HVAC for insurance. |
| Re-inspection | visit | Items checked after repairs. |
| Travel beyond service area | each | Per trip. |
Terms and deposit language for home inspection
- Deposit. The inspection fee is paid in full when the inspection is booked, to hold the date on the buyer's contract timeline.
- Payment. Paid at booking. The report is delivered after the inspection.
- Warranty. An inspection reports what was visible and accessible on the day. It is not a warranty of the home and does not cover hidden or future defects.
- The inspection follows your state's standards of practice where the state sets them.
- Utilities must be on and areas accessible; inaccessible areas are noted in the report.
- Add-on tests may be done by licensed partners where your state requires it.
How to fill it in
- Put in your business details once; this browser keeps them for every template.
- Fill in the customer and the job.
- Change the line items to fit this job and add your prices.
- Set tax, the deposit and the good-until date.
- Print to PDF, download Word or CSV, or send it from Koira.
Free tools for home inspection
- Home inspection cost calculator
- Labor rate calculator
- Break-even calculator
- Google review link generator
The same estimate for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpentry, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, deck, drywall, duct cleaning, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, glass, gutter, handyman, holiday lighting, hood cleaning, hvac, insulation, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, masonry, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, property maintenance, remodeling, restoration, roofing, security system, septic, siding, snow removal, solar, tile, tree service, water treatment, waterproofing, window cleaning, window and door.
More for home inspectors: how home inspectors run on Koira.