1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 The American Society of Home Inspectors®, Inc. (ASHI®) is a not-for-profit professional society established in 1976. Membership in ASHI is voluntary and its members include private, fee-paid home inspectors. ASHI’s objectives include promotion of excellence within the profession and continual improvement of its members’ inspection services to the public.

2. PURPOSE AND SCOPE

2.1 The purpose of these Standards of Practice is to establish a minimum and uniform standard for private, fee-paid home inspectors who are members of the American Society of Home Inspectors. Home Inspections performed to these Standards of Practice are intended to provide the client with information regarding the condition of the systems and components of the home as inspected at the time of the Home Inspection.

2.2 The Inspector shall:

A. inspect:

1. readily accessible systems and components of homes listed in these Standards of Practice.

2. installed systems and components of homes listed in these Standards of Practice.

B. report:

1. on those systems and components inspected which, in the professional opinion of the inspector, are significantly deficient or are near the end of their service lives.

2. a reason why, if not self-evident, the system or component is significantly deficient or near the end of its service life.

3. the inspector’s recommendations to correct or monitor the reported deficiency.

4. on any systems and components designated for inspection in these Standards of Practice which were present at the time of the Home Inspection but were not inspected and a reason they were not inspected.

2.3 These Standards of Practice are not intended to limit inspectors from:

A. including other inspection services, systems or components in addition to those required by these Standards of Practice.

B. specifying repairs, provided the inspector is appropriately qualified and willing to do so.

C. excluding systems and components from the inspection if requested by the client.

3. STRUCTURAL SYSTEM

3.1 The inspector shall:

A. inspect:

1. the structural components including foundation and framing.

2. by probing a representative number of structural components where deterioration is suspected or where clear indications of possible deterioration exist. Probing is NOT required when probing would damage any finished surface or where no deterioration is visible.

B. describe:

1. the foundation and report the methods used to inspect the under-floor crawl space.

2. the floor structure.

3. the wall structure.

4. the ceiling structure.

5. the roof structure and report the methods used to inspect the attic.

3.2 The inspector is NOT required to:

A. provide any engineering service or architectural service.

B. offer an opinion as to the adequacy of any structural system or component.

4. EXTERIOR

4.1 The inspector shall:

A. inspect:

1. the exterior wall covering, flashing and trim.

2. all exterior doors.

3. attached decks, balconies, stoops, steps, porches, and their associated railings.

4. the eaves, soffits, and fascias where accessible from the ground level.

5. the vegetation, grading, surface drainage, and retaining walls on the property when any of these are likely to adversely affect the building.

6. walkways, patios, and driveways leading to dwelling entrances.

B. describe the exterior wall covering.

4.2 The inspector is NOT required to:

A. inspect:

1. screening, shutters, awnings, and similar seasonal accessories.

2. fences.

3. geological, geotechnical or hydrological conditions.

4. recreational facilities.

5. outbuildings.

6. seawalls, break-walls, and docks.

7. erosion control and earth stabilization measures.

5. ROOF SYSTEM

5.1 The inspector shall:

A. inspect:

1. the roof covering.

2. the roof drainage systems.

3. the flashings.

4. the skylights, chimneys, and roof penetrations.

B. describe the roof covering and report the methods used to inspect the roof.

5.2 The inspector is NOT required to:

A. inspect:

1. antennae.

2. interiors of flues or chimneys which are not readily accessible.

3. other installed accessories.