Home inspections can tell you a great deal of very valuable information, but they can't do everything. Here are some of the limitations of a typical home inspection.
A home inspection is not a technically exhaustive
or engineering inspection.
A home inspection is a visual survey of a home. A technically exhaustive
inspection would involve the use of engineering calculations and may involve
destructive testing.
It cannot identify concealed defects.
Items that are hidden or inaccessible
are not inspected.
It cannot identify inaccessible defects.
Items that are hidden or inaccessible
are not inspected.
It does not point out cosmetic defects.
These are items that would
be reasonably noticeable to the average person.
It is not a code compliance evaluation.
Code inspections are performed
by a government authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). Codes are minimal
standards and vary from area to area depending on the local laws and how
these codes are interpreted by the inspector and the AHJ. Also codes change
from time to time.
It does not constitute a warranty or guarantee.
An inspection is an
evaluation of conditions that exits at the time of the inspection only.
It is not an appraisal.
An appraisal establishes a dollar value on
a property. An inspection evaluates physical conditions.
It does not include destructive testing.
The inspector does not own
the home and has no authority to cause damage. Destructive testing would
require additional time and expense in order to both tear out and repair
the damage.
It will not eliminate all risks.
Things happen; appliances wear
out, conditions change. Nothing lasts forever, and this is true of
houses as well.
It will not predict all future defects or events.
Someone once said, “Expect
the unexpected”, and when it comes to homes, they are right!
It is not an identification of all minor/normal
wear & tear conditions.
Normal wear and tear is to be expected.
It is not a vehicle by the inspector to gain work
in another field of home repair.
ASHI inspectors cannot by the ASHI Code of Ethics use an
inspection to gain work in another field. If an inspector were to aquire
additional work in this fashion, it might skew the inspectors opinions.
It is not a pass fail evaluation.
The buyer will determine the acceptability
of discovered defects. The inspector does not fail a property.
It will not provide repair estimates.
Repair costs vary widely between
ccontractors. It is best to obtain several estimates from reliable contractors,
ask questions, and choose the best value, not necessarily the cheapest
price.
An inspector does not advise if the home should
be purchased.
Many
factors enter into the purchase of a home, including many personal desires,
and the inspector is not privy to these.
There can be many professionals involved in the purchase decision, such as engineers, lawyers, real estate agents, bankers, surveyors, etc. The purchaser should consult the appropriate professional to put his mind at ease.