What a home inspection service agreement is for
Inspection work follows the housing market. A yearly checkup for owners and landlords, with a short report on roof, systems and moisture, levels out the slow months and keeps your name in front of people who will buy and sell again, or refer someone who is.
What to put on a home inspection service agreement
- Homes covered.
- Yearly checkup scope.
- Report format and timing.
- Priority booking.
- Set rates for add-ons.
- Price, billing and cancellation.
A worked example
A landlord with three rental houses wants a yearly checkup and report on each.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly home checkup | 3 | visit | Your price |
| Thermal imaging, at agreed rate | 1 | each | Your price |
| Re-inspection | 1 | visit | Your price |
The checkup is a report, not a warranty. Adapt the wording as a template only; it is not legal advice.
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
- Fill in the customer and the start and end dates.
- List what each visit includes and how many visits a year.
- Add your price per line; the plan shows a yearly total, and a monthly figure if billed monthly.
- Fill in what is not covered and the renewal and cancellation terms.
- Check your state's rules, then print it for signatures.
Free tools for home inspection
- Home inspection cost calculator
- Labor rate calculator
- Break-even calculator
- Google review link generator
The same service agreement 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.