Generally, I recommend that clients attend for the last 90 minutes of the inspection, though this may vary depending on size of property, client preference and other factors. I ask that you limit your client party to two clients or related persons and one agent. If you feel a strong tug to exceed that, please discuss it with me in advance. Others competing for your attention, or a tumult of excited friends and relatives, can offset much of the value of coming to the inspection and being able to discuss things with the inspector on site. Any damage caused by children running around, or relatives over-eager to help the inspector, can sour relations with the seller and make any negotiations much more difficult.
Occupant home sellers are asked to vacate the premises for the duration of the inspection (this has been the prevailing practice for home buyer inspections for decades), except possibly the first hour, which I typically spend outside, without clients present. Accommodation may be made on a case-by-case basis for occupants if leaving the premises would pose a significant hardship (e.g. due to health or mobility issues, or with no good alternative to working from home for a few hours).