“ ...the inspection is
only as good as the
inspector you hire.
major systems of the building, the components
that make up those systems, and whether or not
there are any immediate major deficiencies or
expenses anticipated for the buyer of the home.
The roof, structure, electrical and plumbing
system, for example, would be inspected and
reported on. The inspector would be required
to look in the attic, open the electrical panel,
and operate the heating or cooling systems.
The inspector would not be required to test
for indoor air quality or identify environmental
hazards though a thorough inspection backed
by experience could rule out the need for
additional investigations.
Your building inspector may be qualified and
capable of exceeding their standard of practice,
however, it is best if you view your inspector as
a GP, or general practitioner. They can give your
building a “Physical” but depending on what
they can observe during the relatively short
time that they can attend at the property, they
will often be limited in their ability to provide any
absolute judgements regarding the building.
They may need to refer you to a specialist,
someone either licensed in a particular trade
or trained and qualified to assess the likelihood
of specific hazards such as indoor air quality.
”
Your inspector may not provide cost estimates
for additional investigation or for remediation
of deficiencies discovered and reported under
their scope but many, especially those with
trade experience, will do so in spite of the fact
that this is a very inexact practice, especially
as they are not permitted to disturb or damage
the home and its finishes in the course of their
inspection.
When choosing your inspector ensure that they
will remain available in the future to consult
regarding the home you purchase or own. Their
unbiased opinion and broad experience can
be invaluable as you decide to make changes
to your home, deal with any deficiencies that
exist, or as you prepare the home to put it on
the market and perhaps have it inspected by
another inspector or purchaser.~