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