Washington State Home Inspector Licensing -- What Is A Repair?

What are repairs? Should a home inspector be doing paid repairs on a home that he or she inspected?  That is a question that will be asked around the state as the proposed new home inspector licensing laws kick into effect in September. At the last board meeting of the home inspector licensing advisory board, that was a topic of discussion. The proposed home inspection licensing law, in the standards of practice, states:

"The home inspector may not for one yearafter completion of the inspection, repair, replace, or upgrade for compensation components or systems on any building inspected -- this applies to the inspector's firm and other employees or principals of that firm or affiliated firms."

A number of people, inspectors, have asked the intent of that rule. It is there to prevent conflicts of interest and it is not unlike the standards of practice that the major home inspection associations or societies follow -- you do not get paid to do repairs on problems that you found. The thought of cash, at the end of the rainbow, can cloud one's objectivity.

Now, on the other hand, an inspector is not restricted from performing or providing inspection related ancillary services. The section of the law, allowing that, is below:

"Inspectors are not limited from examining other systems and components or including other inspection services."

What kinds of services does this allow? This topic was discussed and it seemed clear that the board feels that radon testing, taking well water samples, re-inspects are all acceptable practices. There, of course, would be other acceptable services as well, but the language must apply. The key is that the inspector will be allowed to do additional inspections, or collect samples, but he or she will not be allowed to get out a saw and a hammer and do the repairs. Or, in the examples above, the inspector may not enter a contract to put in a radon mitigation system or a water treatment system. An inspector may not install or upgrade insulation if it was identified as a defect, or repair steps, etc. That work is not inspection related -- it is hands on.

This division might seem simple but, as the building trades become tougher, some inspectors are looking at different ways to supplement their incomes. A few of them would like to turn inspection work into repair work. That is the kind of activity that the board considers to be a conflict of interest. As a whole, the board believes that it is difficult to be objective, in reporting problems, if you are the one who makes the money off the recommended repairs.

For specific information, you should contact the Department of Licensing.

To see additional information on home inspector licensing in the state, click on George's head.

  Steven L. Smith

 Bellingham WA Home Inspections