Standards & Ethics
Roles, Standards & Ethics
What a home inspection is, the standards of practice, and ethical limits.
What an Inspection Is
A home inspection is a VISUAL, NON-INVASIVE examination of the readily accessible systems and components of a home to report their condition at the time of inspection.
It is NOT a code inspection, a warranty, or a guarantee, and it doesn't predict future failures. Inspectors report what they observe — they don't move furniture, open walls, or operate shut-off systems.
Standards of Practice
Organizations (ASHI, InterNACHI) publish STANDARDS OF PRACTICE (SOP) defining what must be inspected and what's excluded. The SOP sets the minimum scope.
Inspectors describe systems, report material defects (conditions that significantly affect value or safety), and recommend further evaluation by specialists where needed. They are generalists, not specialists.
Ethics & Conflicts
Inspectors must be objective and avoid CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: don't inspect a home you have a financial interest in, don't pay/accept referral fees for the inspection itself in ways that compromise objectivity, and don't perform repairs on a home you inspected (in many jurisdictions, for a period).
Report honestly regardless of who's paying. The client's interest comes first.
📖 Key Terms
- Visual/non-invasive
- Inspection limited to readily accessible areas without dismantling or damage.
- Standards of Practice (SOP)
- Published minimum scope of what must be inspected.
- Material defect
- A condition that significantly affects value or safety.
- Conflict of interest
- Any financial stake that could compromise an inspector's objectivity.
💡 Exam Tips
- ▸A home inspection is visual, non-invasive, and a snapshot in time — not a code inspection or warranty.
- ▸The Standards of Practice define the minimum scope and exclusions.
- ▸Inspectors are generalists; refer to specialists for further evaluation.
- ▸Avoid conflicts of interest — report honestly regardless of who pays.