They need to be honest and factual.  If they are professional, they'll know how to best communicate with their client.  I dislike working with the Inspectors who make mountains out of mole hills.

I want a home inspector to report findings accurately.  If something is a big deal, say it's a big deal.  If it's minor, say it's minor. 

Just the facts, m... Remember Dragnet, if you are old enough to remember that tv show?

They should be frank and tactful -- a professional will know how to do this for every buyer.   

An honest and factual report is what I expect from MY inspectors.   This should be presented in a neutral manner with appropriate explanations.

It should NOT be given in a verbal dissertation of personal opinion and scare phrases to motivate the recipient into drastic visions of impending doom.

Tactful.  I've seen inspectors call out completely irrelevant items like they were the end of the world (and then turn around and say to an handyman they wouldn't even do it at their house).

Report.  Don't preach.  Don't practice real estate.

Anonymous

It is against law to be otherwise.  I am surprised you even asked that kind of questions.

The other choice is face trial serve hehind bars.

home inspectors need to keep the emotion out of their communication and just report what they see.... 

They should be factual.

I think they should be truthful.

They have their role, sometimes they are a bit over the top though.

be frank 

neither, just state the facts

My inspector tells the facts, identifies the health & safety issues.    

Frank and Tactful.  You can tell the buyer the truth (and yes, I do want the unvarnished truth) without the melodrama or panic.

I want the home inspection report to be stating conditions and facts as to what they see not opinions without basis. Most are not contractors nor have been codes officials.

Questions should never be anonymous but the correct answer is the inspector needs to be "non alarming" n telling the problem and what the cure is. 

     I know of an Inspector who suggested in writing that the Buyer lower his contract price(!).

      The Listing Agent reported him to the Florida Real Estate Commission for "practicing real estate without a license", which is a FELONY in Florida.  He got off with a reprimand / warning.

They should be frank and tactful.

"No bedside manner Joe" is what they call an inspector I used to use. You can state the facts without scaring the wits out of a first time home buyer. 

Jill Murty, Realtor - Orange County, CA said it correctly

Just relay the known facts in a well-written report that are relevant to the condition of the property in it's present state. No puffing, hearsay or future predictions on what could happen!

I absolutely want my home inspectors to be honest and factual in their reports. That being said, nothing is worse than inspectors who exaggerate problems when there are easy solutions.

They should be honest.  If their name is "Frank", then they should be "Frank".  I've met a few of those.  Never met one named "Tactful"...

Inspectors should report exactly as state law dictates.

Frank or tactful.

Those are invalid choices.

The problems begin when an inspector feels they are losing relevance regarding their influence in the world around them. So they choose to create influence where it does not belong.

Both!  There is no conflict with being honest and tactful. 

A report should do just that. It is the recommendations that make it dicey