When is a Florida home inspector “appropriately qualified” to render an opinion, make a recommendation, or predict failure of any building component? Unfortunately, most real estate agents and home inspectors alike have no clue even though it is clearly defined by the Florida statute (FAC 61-30).
Many home inspectors violate the statute daily when they perform services or make predictive statements without being "appropriately qualified". Here are some examples of this:
The Florida Standards of Practice for a Home Inspection are outlined in FAC 61.30.801-.811. This is the law which defines:
A home inspector is granted a license to conduct fee-paid home inspections based on minimum qualifications. The law states if a home inspector exceeds these standards, they must be "appropriately qualified" to do so. What this means is, if a home inspector exceeds the Standards of Practice, they must hold additional qualifications to do so. Additional qualifications would mean the home inspector must have documented and verifiable training or additional licensure in a higher trade such as holding licensure as a General Contractor, Plumber, etc. A home inspector is considered qualified to report on obvious, visible defects but they are not qualified to render an opinion on repairs. Here are some examples:
In short, a home inspector is a "generalist" who, by state licensure, is qualified to report on visual defects and to recommend further evaluation by qualified trades when defects are found. By state law, a home inspector conducts a visual, non-technical, non-invasive inspection of installed components that are visible. A home inspector is not qualified to conduct technical evaluations which may require trade licensure.
A home inspector should have enough experience to identify potential concerns that may alert you to unknown obsolescence or defective components. Many home buyers are not knowledgeable of home repair and maintenance costs and discovering defective roofs, HVAC systems, and plumbing systems after closing can be a shock.
In fact, most home inspections return a value far greater than the cost of the inspection. It is not unusual for a potential home buyer to find out the home may need thousands of dollars in repairs or that it may not qualify for homeowner's insurance coverage.
If you could invest $400 - $500 on average to save $10,000 or $20,000, most people would agree that is a good investment. Sometimes, the home inspector may prevent you from making the single biggest investment mistake of your life.
While many home inspectors only have a basic home inspector license, some have additional licensure and certifications which can save you time and money if additional evaluations are warranted. Your real estate agent may not make the best referral for your due diligence protection. In fact, agents rarely do. Agents often choose their home inspection referrals on popularity and association rather than qualifications.
I have met few real estate agents who have even read the state Standards of Practice for a home inspection, yet a home inspection is part of over 86% of all residential real estate transactions. If you don't believe me, ask your agent what is included in the Florida Standards of Practice for a home inspection or ask them what qualifications and experience their referrals have. If you are not satisfied with the answer, you may want to search for your own home inspector.
Look for a home inspector who has licensure beyond that of just home inspection. Important qualifications may include:
Hiring a qualified home inspector will save valuable time and money and give you the best possible inspection. You will pay a little more initially for a well-qualified inspector but generally, you will save the expense of having to hire 3rd-party inspectors when the basic home inspector "recommends you seek further evaluation" or worse, provides you with unqualified opinions.
Property360 is a multi-disciplined property inspection firm offering residential and commercial building inspections across Florida. We are licensed and insured to conduct mold/indoor air quality investigations, EIFS/Stucco inspections, insurance inspections, and HR7020 balcony inspections. We are one of the oldest and most qualified inspection firms having conducted thousands of inspections since 1986. Contact us at (904) 503-9808 to schedule your inspection, or visit us online to request your inspection today!
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