Do Home Inspectors Check Code? - Safe Harbor Inspections
Do Home Inspectors check code? The short answer is no, they do not. But there is more to the question than just yes or no. Let’s dive into it. In New York, licensed Home Inspectors follow what is known as the Standards of Practice. This is a set of guidelines that state what home inspectors shall and shall not inspect. It also states that home inspectors are required to report on unsafe conditions. An unsafe condition is defined as a condition that presents a significant risk of bodily injury during normal, day-to-day use; either due to damage, deterioration, improper installation or a change in construction standards. So, what are these standards? Although they are not specifically codes, most, if not all inspectors know that this means code because construction standards are defined by codes. So technically Home Inspectors do not inspect for code compliance but in many instances, they are actually checking code. In addition to many code compliance items that are checked durin...