| A home inspector non-invasively examines | | | | some form. |
| the condition of a home, often in | | | | United Kingdom |
| connection with the sale of that home. | | | | A home inspector in the United Kingdom |
| This process is referred to as a home | | | | (or more precisely in England and |
| inspection. | | | | Wales), is an inspector certified to |
| An inspector will check the roof, | | | | carry out the Home Condition Reports |
| basement, heating system, water heater, | | | | that, it is expected, will become part |
| air-conditioning system, structure, | | | | of the new Home Information Pack. |
| plumbing, electrical, and many other | | | | On July 18, 2006, the Government |
| aspects of buildings looking for damage | | | | announced the postponement of compulsory |
| which may require expensive repairs, as | | | | Home Condition Reports, which had been |
| well as fire, safety, and health | | | | due to become part of the Home |
| hazards. Think of a home inspector as a | | | | Information Packs on 1 June 2007, |
| detective searching throughout the house | | | | leaving the future for the inspectors |
| for clues that lead to a conclusion of | | | | somewhat uncertain [1]. It is expected, |
| the home's overall condition. | | | | however, that they will be required to |
| A home inspector is sometimes confused | | | | carry out the Energy Performance |
| with a real estate appraiser. A home | | | | Certificatation, which remains a |
| inspector determines the condition of a | | | | mandatory part of the packs. |
| structure, whereas an appraiser | | | | Home inspectors are required to complete |
| determines the value of a property. | | | | the ABBE Diploma in Home Inspection to |
| A home cannot "fail" an inspection, as | | | | show they meet the standards set out for |
| there is no score or passing grade | | | | NVQ/VRQ competence based assessment |
| given. A professional home inspection is | | | | (Level 4). At the time of writing (July |
| an examination of the current condition | | | | 2006?) nearly 3,000 candidates who have |
| of a house. It is not an appraisal. It | | | | registered with training and assessment |
| is not a municipal inspection, which | | | | centres. The government have suggested |
| verifies local building code code | | | | that between 7,500 and 8,000 qualified |
| compliance. A home inspector, therefore, | | | | and licensed home inspectors will be |
| will not pass or fail a house, but | | | | needed to meet the annual demand of |
| rather describe its physical condition | | | | nearly 1,000,000 home information packs. |
| and indicate what components and systems | | | | The intention is that inspectors will |
| may need a major repair or replacement. | | | | carry insurance to protect consumers |
| North America | | | | that rely on their inspections. There is |
| In the United States and Canada, a | | | | no official scheme to protect consumers |
| contract to purchase a house will often | | | | from uninsured inspectors should there |
| include a contingency that the contract | | | | be a problem with a report which a buyer |
| is not valid until a home inspector has | | | | has relied upon. This aspect is under |
| inspected the property (and the contract | | | | review by Yvette Cooper on behalf of the |
| will usually provide for how problems | | | | Government. |
| found in inspection are to be remedied). | | | | Pre-delivery inspection |
| In many states and provinces, home | | | | The pre-delivery inspection, which |
| inspectors are required to be licensed | | | | generally applies to newly-built homes, |
| but typically, licensed professional | | | | is a real estate term that means the |
| engineers are exempt from home inspector | | | | buyer has the option (or requirement, |
| licensing since their license to | | | | depending upon how the real estate |
| practice engineering covers home | | | | contract is written) to inspect the |
| inspections. Typical requirements for | | | | property prior to closing or settlement. |
| obtaining a license are to complete an | | | | These inspections generally takes place |
| approved training course and/or to pass | | | | up to a week before a closing, and they |
| an examination selected by the state's | | | | generally allow buyers the first |
| licensing board. Several states and | | | | opportunity to inspect their new home. |
| provinces also require inspectors to | | | | Additionally, the inspection is to |
| periodically obtain continuing education | | | | ensure that all terms of the contract |
| credits in order to renew their | | | | have been met, that the home is |
| licenses. | | | | substantially completed, and that major |
| A home inspection is often referred to | | | | items are in working order. |
| as an "engineering report", although | | | | Along with a representative of the |
| many home inspectors are not licensed | | | | builder (generally the construction |
| professional engineers. The essential | | | | supervisor or foreman), the buyers may |
| difference between a home inspector and | | | | be accompanied by a home inspector of |
| a professional engineer is that the | | | | their choice. Any noted defects are |
| professional engineer can offer opinions | | | | added to a punch list for completion |
| based upon engineering judgment and can | | | | prior to closing. Often a second |
| design specifications for repair or | | | | inspection is conducted to ensure that |
| reinforcement of a structural | | | | the defects have been corrected. |
| deficiency, although engineering design | | | | Many local governments within the United |
| is typically outside the scope and fee | | | | States and Canada require that new-home |
| structure of a standard home inspection. | | | | builders provide a home warranty for a |
| Either way, anyone entering the home | | | | limited period, and this typically |
| inspection field should be trained in | | | | results in home builders conducting a |
| the unique discipline of home | | | | pre-delivery inspection with the buyer. |
| inspection. Assuming that the home | | | | In a resale situation, this type of |
| inspector or licensed engineer has been | | | | inspection is often termed the "final |
| properly trained and has sufficient | | | | walk-through", and, based on the |
| experience, either person should be able | | | | contract's provisions, it allows the |
| to provide a satisfactory, detailed | | | | buyer the opportunity to inspect the |
| inspection of a property. | | | | home prior to closing to ensure that |
| Currently, more than thirty U.S. states | | | | agreed-upon repairs or improvements have |
| regulate the home inspection industry in | | | | been completed. |