What A Home Inspection Does Not Include

Beach Cities Home Inspections will take time to explain to clients exactly what is not covered by the inspection using the CREIA Standards of Practice and it's inspection report.. Beach Cities Home Inspection inspects many items contained in their inspection report not required by CREIA standards.

Periodically a home inspector may encounter a potential problem this is beyond the inspector's capabilities. An example: a home is built on a hillside with a steep sloping lot. Most inspectors would recommend that the buyer contact a licensed geologist, soils engineer or equivalent professional to address this situation.

An inspector cannot inspect what he or she cannot see (i.e. covered floors, inside walls, underground systems, wiring covered by insulation, items hidden by sellers possessions). Buyers must remember that an inspector can not determine if hard wood floors covered with carpet can be refinished. Many times old hardwood flooring must be completely removed and replaced due to patches, nailing and other conditions.

III. LIMITATIONS, EXCEPTIONS AND EXCLUSIONS
*Note: All limitations, exceptions and exclusions apply equally to mandatory and optional Sections.

A. The inspector may exclude from the inspection any system, structure, or component of the building which is inaccessible, concealed from view, or cannot be inspected due to circumstances beyond the control of the inspector, or which the client has agreed is not to be inspected. If an inspector excludes any specific system, structure, or component of the building from the inspection, the inspector shall confirm in the report such specific system, structure, or component of the building not inspected and the reason(s) for such exclusion(s).

B. The inspector may limit the inspection to individual specific systems, structures, or components of the building. In such event, the inspector shall confirm in the report that the inspection has been limited to such individual specific systems, structures, and components of the building.

C. The following are excluded from the scope of a real estate inspection unless specifically agreed otherwise between the inspector and the client:
1. Systems, structures, or components not specifically identified in these Standards.
2. Environmental hazards or conditions, including, but not limited to, toxic, reactive, combustible, corrosive contaminants, wildfire, geologic or flood.
3. Examination of conditions related to animals, rodents, insects, wood-destroying insects, organisms, mold, and mildew.
4. Geotechnical, engineering, structural, architectural, geological, hydrological, land surveying or soils-related examinations.
5. Certain factors relating to any systems, structures, or components of the building, including, but not limited to: adequacy, efficiency, durability or remaining useful life, costs to repair, replace or operate, fair market value, marketability, quality, or advisability of purchase.
6. Systems, structures, or components, of the building which are not permanently installed.
7. Determination of compliance with installation guidelines, manufacturers’ specifications, building codes, ordinances, regulations, covenants, or other restrictions, including local interpretations thereof.
8. Common areas, or systems, structures, or components thereof, including, but not limited to, those of a common interest development as defined in California Civil Code Section 1351 et seq.

D. The inspector is not required to perform any of the following as part of a real estate inspection:
1. Move any personal items or other obstruction(s) such as, but not limited to: furniture, floor or wall coverings, window coverings, snow, ice, water, debris, and foliage which may obstruct visibility or access.
2. Determine causes for the need of repair or replacement, or specify repair or replacement procedures or materials.
3. Determine existence of latent deficiencies or defects.
4. Dismantle any system, structure, or component, or perform any intrusive or destructive examination, test or analysis.
5. Obtain or review information from any third-parties including, but not limited to: government agencies (such as permits), component or system manufacturers (including product defects, recalls or similar notices), contractors, managers, sellers, occupants, neighbors, consultants, homeowner or similar associations, attorneys, agents or brokers.
6. Activate or operate any system or component that is shut down or does not respond to normal user controls, nor access any area or operate any component or system which may jeopardize the safety of the inspector, or any other person or thing.
7. Research the history of a property, report on its potential for alteration, modification, extendibility, or its suitability for a specific or proposed use or occupancy.
8. Offer any form of guarantee or warranty.
9. Examine or evaluate the acoustical or other nuisance characteristics of any system, structure, or component of a building, complex, adjoining properties, or neighborhood.
10. Operate or evaluate any recreational system, structure or component.
11. Operate or evaluate low voltage electrical (less than single-phase line voltage, typically 120-volts), antennas, security systems, cable or satellite television, telephone, remote controls, radio controls, timers, intercoms, computers, photo-electric, motion sensing, or other such similar non-primary electrical power devices, components, or systems.
12. Use any special equipment to examine any system, structure, or component of a building.
13. Probe or exert pressure on any component, system or structure.
14. Examine or evaluate fire-resistive qualities of any system, structure or component of the building.
15. Examine every individual component of a system or structure, where such components are typically replicated, including, but not limited to: doors, windows, switches and receptacles. A representative sampling may be performed in order to examine such systems, structures, or components of a building.
16. Determine the age of construction or installation of any system, structure, or component of a building, or differentiate between original construction or subsequent additions, improvements, renovations or replacements thereto.