Legal/Ethics

Question 1

Describe in one sentence what home inspections are intended to provide for clients

Answer 1

Inspections provide the client with information regarding the condition of the systems and components of the home inspected at the time of the home inspection.

Question 2

List at least three components of written reports.

Answer 2

(1) Things unsafe, inoperative, or near the end of their lives; (2) The implications of the deficiencies; (3)The recommendations; (4) What things were not inspected and why

Question 3

List 17 items inspectors are not required to determine.

Answer 3

(1) Conditions of systems or components that are not readily accessible; (2) Remaining life expectancy of any system or component; (3) Strength, adequacy, effectiveness, or efficiency of any system or component; (4) The causes of any condition or deficiency; (5) Methods, materials, or costs of corrections; (6) Future conditions including, but not limited to, failure of systems and components; (7) The suitability of the property for any specialized use; (8) Compliance with regulatory requirements (codes, regulations, laws, etc.); (9) Market value of the property or its marketability; (10) The advisability of purchase of the property; (11) The presence of potentially hazardous plants or animals including, but not limited to, wood-destroying organisms or diseases harmful to humans, including mold or mold-like substances; (12) The presence of any environmental hazards including, but not limited to, toxins, carcinogens, noise, and contaminants in soil, water and air; (13) The effectiveness of any system installed or method utilized to control or remove suspected hazardous substances; (14) Operating costs of systems or components; (15) Acoustical properties of any system or component; (16) Soil conditions relating to geological or hydrologic specialties; (17) Whether items, materials, conditions, and components are subject to recall, controversy, litigation, product liability, and other adverse claims and conditions

Question 4

List four services that inspectors are not required to offer.

Answer 4

(1) Any act or service contrary to law or government regulations; (2) Architectural, engineering, contracting, or surveying services, or to confirm or evaluate such services performed by others; (3) Work in trades or any professional services other than home inspections; (4) Warranties or guarantees

Question 5

List four things inspectors are not required to operate.

Answer 5

(1) Any system or component that is shut down or otherwise inoperable; (2) Any system or component that does not respond to normal operating controls; (3) Shut-off valves or manual stop valves; (4) Automatic safety controls

Question 6

List two areas that inspectors are not required to enter.

Answer 6

(1) Any area that will, in the opinion of the inspector, likely be dangerous to the inspector or other persons, or damage the property or its systems or components; (2) Underfloor crawlspaces or attics that are not readily accessible

Question 7

List eight items that inspectors are not required to inspect.

Answer 7

(1) Underground items including, but not limited to, underground storage tanks or other underground indications of their presence, whether abandoned or active; (2) Items that are not installed; (3) Installed decorative items; (4) Items in areas that are not entered (dangerous or inaccessible); (5) Detached structures other than garages and carports; (6) Common elements or common areas in multi-unit housing, such as condominium properties or cooperative housing; (7) Every occurrence of multiple similar components; (8) Outdoor cooking appliances

Question 8

List at least six things that inspectors are not required to do.

Answer 8

(1) Perform any procedure or operation that will, in the opinion of the inspector, likely be dangerous to the inspector or other persons or cause damage to property or its systems or components; (2) Describe or report on any system or component that is not included in the Standards and was not inspected; (3) Move personal property, furniture, equipment, plants, soil, snow, ice, or debris; (4) Dismantle any system or component, except as explicitly required by the Standard; (5) Ignite or extinguish fires, pilot lights, burners, and other open flames that require manual ignition; (6) Probe surfaces that would be damaged or where no deterioration is visible or presumed to exist

Question 9

Define “technically exhaustive” within the scope of a home inspection

Answer 9

Involving dismantling, extensive use of measurements, instruments, testing, or calculations.

Question 10

Define “inspector” within the context of the Standards of Practice.

Answer 10

A person hired to examine any system or component of a building using this Standard.

Question 11

Summarize, in one sentence each, the three elements of the Code of Ethics.

Answer 11

Avoid conflicts of interest or activities that compromise, or appear to compromise, professional independence, objectivity, or inspection integrity.
Act in good faith toward your clients and other interested parties.
Avoid activities that may harm the public or discredit yourself or reduce public confidence in the profession.

Question 12

List four reasons written reports are needed.

Answer 12

(1) The Standards require it; (2) To help the client; (3) To control your liability; (4) Marketing tool

Question 13

List two time options for report delivery.

Answer 13

(1) Onsite reports; (2) Reports sent after the inspection

Question 14

List three general types of report formats.

Answer 14

(1) Checklist; (2) Narrative; (3) Combination

Question 15

List 10 common components of the body of the report.

Answer 15

(1) Scope/contract; (2) Descriptions; (3) Conditions or evaluations; (4) Causes of conditions; (5) Implications of conditions; (6) Recommended actions; (7) Limitations; (8) Life expectancy; (9) Priorities; (10) Ballpark costs

Question 16

Give a one-sentence example of each of these components. Use different examples from those provided in the unit.

Answer 16

Scope—The inspection was done according to the ASHI Standards.
Descriptions—The roofing material is asphalt shingle.
Conditions or evaluations—The water heater is leaking.
Causes of conditions—The wet basement is a result of the leaking gutters and downspouts.
Implications—The uneven stairs are a trip hazard.
Recommended actions—The 30-amp fuses should be replaced with 15-amp fuses.
Limitations—No access was gained to the crawlspace.
Life expectancy—Replacement of the roof covering will probably be necessary within the next three to six years.
Priorities—The open electrical box should be provided with a cover immediately, and the service should be upgraded to 200 amps within the next year.
Ball park—Furnace replacement may cost $1,500–$2,500.

Question 17

Which report components are required by the Standards?

Answer 17

Descriptions, conditions, implications unless they are obvious, and recommended actions

Question 18

What elements over and above the 10 you have listed might be included in home inspection reports?

Answer 18

(1) Report summary; (2) Client questionnaire estimates; (3) Maintenance tips; (4) Filing systems; (5) Life cycle and cost
Note that none of these elements are required by the Standards.