What home inspection service entails for the most part is an authorized professional determining the condition of a house, typically one that is in the process of being sold. This home inspection service also probably encompasses, at least to some extent, an examination of structural members to assess whether wood-destroying insects or other organisms have infested and/or damaged them. The home inspector then writes up his findings in an inspection report and delivers it promptly to the client. This article looks at, in some depth, the service aspect of inspecting houses, including how regulations and standards govern the industry, what qualifications give the inspector his authority, and why performance quality among inspectors varies more widely than one would expect.

To furnish proper home inspection service the inspector must first meet certain qualifications, the most important of which is obtaining licenses. Despite being a generalist, not having to become a professional electrician, plumber, or HVAC expert, he must still have a good overall understanding of house systems and components.

Acquiring this understanding involves extensive training, and then the inspector has to prove command of the material by passing rigorous tests before he can receive his license. And if his state requires a separate license to furnish pest inspection service, he has to complete another process of training and testing to acquire it. Other qualifications the inspector must meet are having sufficient financial coverage, whether in the form of errors-and-omission insurance or surety bonding, and keeping up his skill set, through continuing education, as trends in the building industry change.

States and professional associations of inspectors issue standards of practice that constitute regulations the inspector must follow. Different forms of checklists serve to enforce the rules. One kind of checklist governs inspection business conduct. It stipulates the length of time an inspector must retain contracts in his records, information that must be disclosed in contracts and reports, and how the inspector should interact with clients so that their relationship is professional and fair.

A checklist addressing home inspection service ethics outlines several demands. The inspector must disclose to the client if he has a financial relationship with anyone else involved in the transaction. He can\’t skew his reporting or agree to report predetermined findings according to agent requests. He can\’t be fraudulent in his advertising, and he must diligently steer away from conflicts of interest, perceived or actual.

Two other checklists deal comprehensively with general exclusions from inspections and everything that must be included in a home inspection. The first checklist requires a statement of exclusions (i.e., that the inspection is not technically exhaustive, does not require the inspector to move objects if access is blocked, does not test for code compliance, is not an environmental or hazardous materials survey, does not constitute any kind of warranty, and doesn\’t determine defect causes) to appear in inspection contracts. The second checklist itemizes everything the home inspector must do and what he does not have to do.

Historically there have been both internal and external pressures on inspectors to do whatever it takes to gain sales. Marketing strategies vary as to target audience and methods, influencing some inspectors to pay more service to real estate agents than to clients. Hence, home inspection service quality has not been uniform. Current trends have ameliorated the situation to some degree, but it still behooves the customer to investigate an inspector\’s performance quality before hiring him.

John W. Gordon is a licensed home inspector who works out of Bellingham, Washington. Always thorough and methodical, he provides quality service by adhering to a comprehensive home inspection checklist. To view John\’s cost structure and sample reports visit www.HomeInspectionWA.net.

John W. Gordon is a licensed home inspector who works out of Bellingham, Washington. Always thorough and methodical, he provides quality service by adhering to a comprehensive home inspection checklist. To view John\’s cost structure and sample reports visit http://www.HomeInspectionWA.net.

Author Bio: John W. Gordon is a licensed home inspector who works out of Bellingham, Washington. Always thorough and methodical, he provides quality service by adhering to a comprehensive home inspection checklist. To view John\’s cost structure and sample reports visit www.HomeInspectionWA.net.

Category: Real Estate
Keywords: home inspection service, inspection service, home inspector, home inspection, inspection checklist