What will/won't my home inspector look for during my inspection?

There are many ways to answer this question, and there are many variables to consider. However, possibly the most direct would be to explain the Standards of Practice by which home inspectors are bound.

What are standards of practice? Well, in relation to the home inspection industry in the United States, the standards of practice are a set of rules and regulations that directly define the scope of work that the home inspector will perform. These standards are different by state and organization, but each home inspector must clearly articulate which standards he/she adheres to before the inspection begins.

For the sake of this article, we will be referring to the InterNACHI Standards of Practice and the Indiana State Minimum Standards of Performance and Code of Ethics. Indiana has defined its own standards by which home inspectors are bound, but we at Aviate Inspections also subscribe to the InterNACHI Standards of Practice as an active member of InterNACHI.

I won't subject you to my paraphrasing of the standards. Instead, I'll include them below for you to peruse at your leisure. Don't worry, they're fairly simplified and won't take long to read through.

Indiana State Minimum Standards of Performance and Code of Ethics:

Indiana State Minimum Standards of Competent Performance & Code of Ethics.pdf

Download PDF • 208KB

InterNACHI Standards of Practice:

InterNACHI Standards of Practice.pdf

Download PDF • 138KB

Now that you've read through the standards, you are prepared to know exactly the types of things your home inspector will and won't be looking for. It is important to note that each home inspector subscribes to their preferred standards if they are not bound by their state regulations. However, InterNACHI's standards are quite common. You may also have an inspector that subscribes to the ASHI Standards of Practice. In that case, I will include those below as well.

ASHI Standards of Practice:

ASHI Standards of Practice.pdf

Download PDF • 272KB

Now, you must remember that these standards are the MINIMUM standards for home inspectors to follow. They do not bind us so tightly that we cannot go above and beyond them. In fact, many home inspectors will. This allows home inspectors to gain a competitive edge in his/her market and, generally, a better reputation amongst home owners and real estate agents.

This article was a little vague, right? Well, yes it was. It was intentionally written in this manner. My reasoning extends back to the first line of this article, "there are many variables to consider". You must do your due diligence before your home inspection takes place. It's important to identify which standards of practice your inspector will be following and educate yourself on those specific guidelines. This will prevent confusion between you and your inspector. After all, you don't buy a home everyday. In fact, this may be your first time. If it is, congratulations! Just be sure to educate yourself during the process. You'll be much happier if you do, and your inspector will thank you for it!