Can the seller be present at the home inspection?

Yes. Nothing in New York's home inspection rules says who may or may not attend. The inspection is commissioned by the buyer and the report is written for the buyer, but Lou is glad to have the seller there as well. He enjoys the walk-along — pointing at what he is looking at and explaining why it matters — and he does that for whoever is in the house, buyer or seller. Most homeowners learn something about their own house that day.

His Google reviews say the same thing in the clients' own words: “He takes the time to explain everything he is looking at and how it works. You'll get a great inspection and learn a few things with Louis.” “He welcomes first-time home buyers to walk through the inspection process.” “He took the time to explain and teach me a lot of important things about the house.”

What does not change is what gets written down: the report records the condition of what was readily accessible on the day, with photographs, and anything not observed is listed with the reason. A seller who wants to know before the buyer does still has a better option: a pre-listing inspection, the same inspection run before the house goes on the market.

A real photograph from one of Lou’s own inspections, chosen because it shows a building component and nothing that identifies a property or an owner.