Buying a home? The process can be stressful. A home inspection is supposed to give you peace of mind, but often has the opposite effect. You will be asked to absorb a lot of information in a short time. This often includes a written report, checklist, photographs, environmental reports and what the inspector himself says during the inspection. All this combined with the seller's disclosure and what you notice yourself makes the experience even more overwhelming. What should you do?
Relax. Most of your inspection will be maintenance recommendations, life expectancies and minor imperfections. These are nice to know about. However, the issues that really matter will fall into four categories:
Major defects. An example of this would be a structural failure.
Things that lead to major defects. A small roof-flashing leak, for example.
Things that may hinder your ability to finance, legally occupy or insure the home.
Safety hazards, such as an exposed, live buss bar at the electric panel.
Anything in these categories should be addressed. Often a serious problem can be corrected inexpensively to protect both life and property.
Most sellers are honest and are often surprised to learn of defects uncovered during an inspection. Realize that sellers are under no obligation to repair everything mentioned in the report. No home is perfect.
Keep things in perspective. Do not kill your deal over things that do not matter. It is inappropriate to demand that a seller address deferred maintenance, conditions already listed on the seller's disclosure or nit-picky items.
There's a new buzz-word in the home inspection and real estate industry - ethics. There doesn't seem to be a day that goes by that we don't see a newscast or read an article about how an unsuspecting homeowner, buyer and seller got swindled by an incompetent home inspector or greedy real estate firm. Fortunately, there are home inspection companies and Realtors® who believe that the only policy to work by is the one that protects the client first.
RICHARDSON HOME INSPECTIONS operates by some of the highest ethical standards in our industry. In fact, we provide each one of our clients and their agent with a signed Code of Ethics which defines how we operate from the very beginning of our service relationship. You know from the very start where we stand and what we believe so you can rest assured knowing that we are totally focused on providing our clients with thorough home inspection service that are untainted by any relationship we may have with real estate agents, mortgage lenders, or any other third-party with a vested interest in the sale or purchase of your home.
Our CODE OF ETHICS:
The National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI) promotes a high standard of professionalism, business ethics and inspection procedures. NACHI members subscribe to the following Code of Ethics in the course of their business.
1. Duty to the Public
1.
The NACHI member shall abide by the Code of Ethics and substantially follow the NACHI Standards of Practice.
2.
The NACHI member shall not engage in any practices that could be damaging to the public or bring discredit to the home inspection industry.
3.
The NACHI member shall be fair, honest, impartial, and act in good faith in dealing with the public.
4.
The NACHI member shall not discriminate in any business activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, sexual orientation, or handicap and shall comply with all federal, state and local laws concerning discrimination.
5.
The NACHI member shall be truthful regarding his/her services & qualifications.
6.
The NACHI member shall have no undisclosed conflict of interest with the client, nor shall the NACHI member accept or offer any undisclosed commissions, rebates, profits or other benefit, nor shall the NACHI member accept or offer any disclosed or undisclosed commissions, rebates, profits or other benefit from from real estate agents, brokers or any third parties having financial interest in the sale of the property nor shall the NACHI member offer or provide any disclosed or undisclosed financial compensation directly or indirectly to any real estate agent, real estate broker or real estate company for referrals or for inclusion on lists of preferred and/or affiliated inspectors or inspection companies.
7.
The NACHI member shall not communicate any information about an inspection to anyone except the client without the prior written consent of the client, except where it may affect the safety of others or violates a law or statute.
8.
The NACHI member shall always act in the interest of the client, unless doing so violates a law, statute or this Code of Ethics.
9.
The NACHI member shall use a written contract that specifies the services to be performed, limitations of services and fees.
10.
The NACHI member shall comply with all government rules and licensing requirements of the jurisdiction where he/she conducts business.
11.
The NACHI member shall not perform or offer to perform, for an additional fee, any repairs or associated services to structure on which the member or member's company has prepared a home inspection report, for a period of 12 months. This provision shall not include services to components and/or systems which are not included in the NACHI standards of practice.
2. Duty to Continue Education
1.
The NACHI member shall comply with NACHI's current Continuing Education Requirements.
2.
The NACHI member shall pass the NACHI's Online Inspector Exam once every calendar year.
3. Duty to the Profession and NACHI
1.
The NACHI member shall strive to improve the Home Inspection Industry by sharing his/her lessons and/or experiences for the benefit of all. This does not preclude the member from copyrighting or marketing his/her expertise to other Inspectors or the public in any manner permitted by law.
2.
The NACHI member shall assist the NACHI leadership in disseminating and publicizing the benefits of NACHI membership.
3.
The NACHI member shall not engage in any act or practice that could be deemed damaging, seditious or destructive to NACHI, fellow NACHI members, NACHI employees, leadership or directors. Member(s) accused of acting or deemed in violation of such rules shall be reviewed by the Ethics committee for possible sanctions and/or expulsion from NACHI.
4.
The NACHI member shall abide by NACHI's current membership requirements.
5.
The NACHI member shall abide by NACHI's current message board rules.
This is a newly constructed home. The main service entrance cable (SEC) from the utility pole was attached to the rear of the house adjacent to an upstairs bedroom window. Not only is this considered a serious safety hazard, but it was approved by the AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction). Who says new homes don't need to be inspected!
