RESIDENTIAL STANDARDS OF PRACTICE – FOUR OR FEWER UNITS

 

                            Part I. Definitions and Scope

These Standards of Practice provide guidelines for a real estate inspection and 

define certain terms relating to these inspections. Italicized words in these

Standards are defined in Part IV, Glossary of Terms.

 

A. A real estate inspection is a survey and basic operation of the systems and

components of a building which can be reached, entered, or viewed without

difficulty, moving obstructions, or requiring any action which may result in

damage to the property or personal injury to the Inspector. The purpose  

of the inspection is to provide the Client with information regarding the

general condition of the building(s). Cosmetic and aesthetic conditions shall

not be considered.

 

B. A real estate inspection report provides written documentation of material

defects discovered in the inspected building’s systems and components

which, in the opinion of the Inspector, are safety hazards, are not

functioning properly, or appear to be at the ends of their service lives.

The report may include the Inspector’s recommendations for correction or

further evaluation.

 

C. Inspections performed in accordance with these Standards of Practice are

not technically exhaustive and shall apply to the primary building and its

associated primary parking structure.

 

                                 Part II. Standards of Practice

A real estate inspection includes the readily accessible systems and components

or a representative number of multiple similar components listed in SECTIONS 1

through 9 subject to the limitations, exceptions, and exclusions in Part III.

 

SECTION 1 – Foundation, Basement, and Under-floor Areas

A. Items to be inspected:

     1. Foundation system

     2. Floor framing system

     3. Under-floor ventilation

     4. Foundation anchoring and cripple wall bracing

     5. Wood separation from soil

     6. Insulation

 

B. The Inspector is not required to:  

     1. Determine size, spacing, location, or adequacy of foundation bolting/

     bracing components or reinforcing systems

     2. Determine the composition or energy rating of insulation materials

 

SECTION 2 – Exterior

 

A. Items to be inspected:

     1. Surface grade directly adjacent to the buildings

     2. Doors and windows

     3. Attached decks, porches, patios, balconies, stairways, and their

     enclosures

     4. Wall cladding and trim

     5. Portions of walkways and driveways that are adjacent to the buildings 

B. The Inspector is not required to:

     1. Inspect door or window screens, shutters, awnings, or security bars

     2. Inspect fences or gates or operate automated door or gate openers or

     their safety devices

     3. Use a ladder to inspect systems or components

 

SECTION 3 – Roof Covering

 

A. Items to be inspected: 

     1. Covering

     2. Drainage

     3. Flashings

     4. Penetrations

     5. Skylights

 

 

 

 

 

 

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B. The Inspector is not required to:

     1. Walk on the roof surface if in the opinion of the Inspector there is risk

         of damage or a hazard to the Inspector

     2. Warrant or certify that roof systems, coverings, or components are free

         from leakage

 

SECTION 4 – Attic Areas and Roof Framing

A. Items to be inspected:

     1. Framing

     2. Ventilation

     3. Insulation

 

B. The Inspector is not required to:

     1. Inspect mechanical attic ventilation systems or components

     2. Determine the composition or energy rating of insulation materials

 

SECTION 5 – Plumbing

A. Items to be inspected:

     1. Water supply piping

     2. Drain, waste, and vent piping

     3. Faucets and fixtures

     4. Fuel gas piping

     5. Water heaters

     6. Functional flow and functional drainage

 

B. The Inspector is not required to:

     1. Fill any fixture with water or inspect overflow drains or drain-stops, or

         evaluate backflow devices, waste ejectors, sump pumps, or drain line

         cleanouts

     2. Inspect or evaluate water temperature balancing devices, temperature

         fluctuation, time to obtain hot water, water circulation, or solar heating

         systems or components

     3. Inspect whirlpool baths, steam showers, or sauna systems or

         components

     4. Inspect fuel tanks or determine if the fuel gas system is free of leaks

     5. Inspect wells or water treatment systems

 

SECTION 6 – Electrical

A. Items to be inspected:

     1. Service equipment

     2. Electrical panels

     3. Circuit wiring

     4. Switches, receptacles, outlets, and lighting fixtures

 

B. The Inspector is not required to:

     1. Operate circuit breakers or circuit interrupters

     2. Remove cover plates

     3. Inspect de-icing systems or components

     4. Inspect private or emergency electrical supply systems or components

 

SECTION 7 – Heating and Cooling

A. Items to be inspected:

     1. Heating equipment

     2. Central cooling equipment

     3. Energy source and connections

     4. Combustion air and exhaust vent systems

     5. Condensate drainage

     6. Conditioned air distribution systems

 

B. The Inspector is not required to:

     1. Inspect heat exchangers or electric heating elements

     2. Inspect non-central air conditioning units or evaporative coolers

     3. Inspect radiant, solar, hydronic, or geothermal systems or components

     4. Determine volume, uniformity, temperature, airflow, balance, or leakage

         of any air distribution system

     5. Inspect electronic air filtering or humidity control systems or

         components