A home inspector typically would not move personal belongings or furniture, predict the future failure of appliances or systems, or inspect areas that are difficult to access. Their job focuses on evaluating the current visible condition of the home and its permanent fixtures.
Key Activities a Home Inspector Avoids
While home inspectors are crucial for assessing a property's condition, there are specific limitations to their services. Understanding these boundaries helps buyers and sellers set appropriate expectations for the inspection process.
Here's a breakdown of what a home inspector generally does not do:
- Moving Personal Items or Furniture: Inspectors will not rearrange or move any personal items, furniture, or stored belongings to gain access to areas. Their inspection is limited to readily accessible components of the home. If an area is obstructed by personal items, it will likely not be inspected.
- Inspecting Hard-to-Reach or Inaccessible Areas: Areas that are difficult to access or require dismantling parts of the home (e.g., behind finished walls, under insulation in tightly packed attics, or crawl spaces with limited clearance) are typically outside the scope of a standard inspection. The focus is on components that are visible and readily accessible.
- Predicting Future Failures: An inspector evaluates the current condition of systems and appliances based on their visible state and operational checks at the time of the inspection. They do not predict when an appliance, HVAC system, or any other component might fail in the future. Their report will indicate current deficiencies, not future lifespan estimates.
- Inspecting Non-Permanent Fixtures or Off-Site Structures: The inspection is limited to the house itself and its permanent fixtures. This means they generally will not inspect detached structures like sheds (unless specifically agreed upon and within scope), personal property not permanently affixed, or items that are not part of the real estate transaction.
| Aspect of Inspection | What a Home Inspector DOES | What a Home Inspector DOES NOT DO |
|---|---|---|
| Access | Inspect readily accessible components. | Move furniture or personal items; inspect hard-to-reach areas. |
| Assessment | Evaluate current visible condition of systems and structures. | Predict future failures of appliances or systems. |
| Scope | Focus on the house and its permanent fixtures. | Inspect non-permanent items or structures outside the primary dwelling's permanent fixtures. |
By understanding these exclusions, individuals can better prepare for a home inspection and know what additional evaluations, if any, they might need for specific concerns.
