Inspection Report Template

A building inspection report is a written document used in construction project management that details the findings of a building inspection. Download this free building inspection report template for Excel to include in construction contracts and as a resource for buyers to help them avoid future issues.

Why You Need a Building Inspection Report Template

This free building inspection report template for Excel allows inspectors to gather the information they need to make a thorough building inspection and track that work. This building inspection report template ensures that the structure being inspected is safe and meets building inspection standards.

Without an inspection report template, the construction reporting process will devolve and likely not be as thorough as needed, which can leave some dangerous omissions. The building inspection report can avoid those risks and provide a consistent reporting format. That keeps the inspection standards high and helps compare findings across different inspectors.

An inspection report template is simply more efficient. Inspectors don’t have to start from scratch each time they’re tasked with inspecting a building, which saves time. It also ensures that the inspection is comprehensive, including all essential elements, from structural integrity and electrical systems to plumbing, safety concerns and more. This is displayed in a clear, easily understandable format for clients, real estate agents and contractors.

A standardized inspection report template ensures the building is following legal and regulatory requirements. This provides legal protection for the general contractor. The contractor also streamlines their record-keeping capacity with the inspection report template. The consistent format makes it easier to archive, retrieve and review as needed.

*Free inspection report template for Excel*

When to Use a Building Inspection Report Template

This free building inspection report template serves several purposes. Its primary reason for existence is to ensure that inspections are thorough and well-documented. The building inspection report is typically used during the planning phase of a project. That can be a project that involves renovation, construction or any work on an existing building.

For example, during the planning and scope definition of a construction project, the building inspection report template will help to identify the condition of the building and potential issues. This is important because it informs the definition of the project scope. Also, by identifying problems or defects, the inspection report template helps with risk management and developing mitigation strategies.

The inspection report template can also be used to estimate the project cost. It can find issues that affect the cost estimate, such as areas that need additional work. There’s also regulatory compliance, which is a major part of any building inspection report. The structure must meet local codes and regulations. If it doesn’t, those areas must be addressed, which adds to project costs.

The general contractor will also use the inspection report template to help determine if the project is worth the cost. There might be too many issues to make the renovation profitable or the property worth purchasing.

Whatever decision the general contractor makes, the results of the inspection report will define the scope of work in the contract to ensure everyone is aware of the building’s condition and required repairs.

This construction inspection report template for Word can be used for a variety of construction inspections, from residential to commercial projects. It can be used in any of the following.

Home inspection report template
Property inspection report template
Site inspection report template
Building inspection report template

Whatever the reason for using a building inspection report template, once the report is filed, the work begins. Project management software helps facilitate the process of addressing the issues found in the inspection report template. ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software that has a list view that can be used as a powerful punch list to capture and address all the defects and work identified in the inspection report template. The task list can be shared and updated on-site with a laptop or mobile device and has unlimited file storage to attach documents and images to tasks. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

List view in ProjectManager — ProjectManager’s list view is a punch list that addresses issues found in the inspection report template. Learn more

Who Should Use This Free Building Inspection Report Template?

Construction workers and project stakeholders can use the building inspection report template. Here’s a list of some of those professionals.

General Contractors: They oversee the construction project and will need to know the detailed findings of the inspection report template to assign the crew to resolve those issues.
Project Managers: Incorporate the findings of the inspection report template into the project plan, scope and budget.
Project Team Members: To understand the areas they’ve been tasked to do.
Client and Stakeholders: Helps them make informed decisions based on the building’s condition.
Contractors and Subcontractors: Understand the issues and scope of work required for repairs or modifications.
Architects and Engineers: Use the inspection report template to design solutions and make recommendations.
Regulatory Agencies: Their job is to ensure the building meets the code and regulatory laws.
Real Estate Professionals: When buying or selling properties, the inspection report template evaluates the building’s value and condition.

What Is Included in This Building Inspection Report Template?

The inspection report template must include a lot of information to be thorough. To ensure that the building inspection is done correctly, the free building inspection report template has the following sections and elements.

General Information

Property Address
Building Age
Building Type
Client’s Name and Contact Information
Inspector’s Name and Contact Information

Inspection Summary

Key Observations and Findings
Suggested Actions and Recommendations

Building Inspection Report Breakdown

Electrical Work
HVAC
Roofing
Foundation & Basement
Plumbing
Walls
Sewer Lines
Exterior
Pest Control
Fire Detectors & Other Related Equipment
Security Systems

What Other Templates Can Help With Construction Inspections?

There are over 100 free project management templates for Excel and Word available for download from our site. The inspection report template is one of many that addresses construction inspection issues. Here are a few more that can help with construction inspections.

Punch List Template

A punch list consists of tasks that must be completed before the project can be delivered. Use this free punch list template for Excel to capture those odds and ends that were found in a walkthrough that identified additional work that must be done.

Construction Daily Report Template

Use this free construction daily report template for Excel at the end of the day to log everything that occurred on the job site. It includes all the construction work performed, whether the project is on schedule, visitors to the site, the weather conditions and much more.

Construction Change Order Form

This free construction change order form template captures any modifications to the scope of work in a project. Use it to detail the work that is being proposed, how much that change will cost and if it will cause delays to the established construction schedule.

How to Manage Construction Inspections With ProjectManager

These free templates are great for those who don’t have project management software. But those people will quickly find themselves frustrated with these static documents. They can’t track or be updated, except manually, which pulls one away from more important work. Templates also aren’t collaborative tools. For greater efficiency, use project management software like ProjectManager, award-winning project and portfolio management software that has list views to manage task lists, dashboards to track costs and progress and reports to keep stakeholders updated.

Use Real-Time Dashboards to Track Cost and Progress

Once a plan is scheduled on our robust Gantt chart, managers will want to set a baseline. This captures that plan and tracks project variance. That means the software constantly updates to see how the actual cost and progress compare to the planned cost and progress. The real-time dashboard does this for the project or portfolio and displays live data in easy-to-read graphs and charts that illustrate time, cost, workload and more. This helps ensure that the work identified in the inspection report template is being completed in a timely, cost-appropriate manner.

Manage Stakeholder Expectations With Customizable Reports

Stakeholders are those with a vested interest in the project. There are many stakeholders, but general contractors especially need to manage the expectations of their clients or the property owners. Using our customizable reports, which can be shared across a variety of formats, contractors can keep stakeholders informed. There are status and portfolio reports, which can be filtered for more general information when presenting to stakeholders or more detailed information when managers need to go deeper into the details.