Suggested protocols and documentation
Suggested workflow
Start with a checklist: address, access, safety, tools, and scope. Work systematically from exterior to attic. Record measurements, locations, and limitations on a field sheet as you go. Complete the form from verified field data, not memory. Keep the photo log and field notes with the report.
Documentation standards
Use the form’s exact categories. Note inaccessible areas and why. Do not mark a feature “yes” or a stronger category without visual evidence. If a roof-to-wall connection is hidden by insulation, say so; do not default to toe nails or straps. Retain records according to your business and legal requirements.
Worked example
The attic hatch is too small to enter safely. You can see the roof deck from the hatch but not the roof-to-wall connectors. Mark the roof-to-wall attachment as not verified or unknown, not “toe nails.” The reasoning: absence of evidence is not evidence of the weakest condition, but it also cannot support a credit.
Traps
- Filling inaccessible fields with assumptions.
- Using the homeowner’s repair invoice as verification.
- Losing photos before the report is delivered.
- Mixing up form categories between similar houses.