July 25th, 2022 at 3:14 pm
A. They must be licensed.
B. They can be certified.
C. They can offer their buyer-clients a nice discount on repair services after close of escrow.
D. All of the above.
Answer: As background, a home inspection is generally defined as a noninvasive, physical examination of a property conducted to identify material defects in the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, and the structural and essential components.
Answer A is wrong (so Answer D is wrong too). There is currently no California licensing requirement for home inspectors. That means that clients should be very careful when selecting a home inspector, by checking their qualifications, experience, insurance, bonding, reviews, and other matters.
Answer B is the correct answer. A home inspector can be certified by non-governmental groups, such as the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). ASHI is a membership organization committed to enhancing professionalism among home inspectors, such as by requiring its members to abide by an ASHI Standard of Practice and Code of Ethics.
Answer C is wrong. California law specifically prohibits a home inspector from performing any repair services for a fee within 12 months after preparing a home inspection report for that property.
-Thank you to Stephanie Payab (Encino Office) for suggesting this week’s legal tip!
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