01 · Section
The four-part structure
Every defensible inspection comment has four parts: (1) what you observed (factual, present tense, no opinion), (2) why it matters (the consequence — fire risk, water intrusion, end-of-life), (3) what you recommend (evaluation by a licensed professional, not specific repair scope), (4) optional reference (NEC, IRC, manufacturer spec). This is the structure liability-safe reports follow.
02 · Section
Observation, not opinion
Write what you saw, not what you think. 'Two conductors were observed terminated under a single breaker lug' is an observation. 'The previous electrician did sloppy work' is an opinion — and a lawsuit. Stay in the observation column.
03 · Section
Severity classification
Most inspection software supports three-to-five severity tiers: Safety, Major, Concern, Note (or similar). Every comment should be tagged with its severity. Severity is the buyer's quick-scan trigger and the agent's negotiation lever.
04 · Section
Recommend evaluation, not repair
Don't tell the homeowner exactly how to fix it. Recommend 'evaluation by a licensed [trade] contractor' — they'll determine the repair scope. This protects you if the actual fix differs from what you'd have written.
05 · Section
Reference the code when it adds weight
NEC 110.14 (double-tapping), IRC R311 (egress), EPA action level (radon 4.0 pCi/L) — code references signal to the buyer's attorney that you know the standard. Use sparingly, only when accurate.