e050531 Can an inspector include repair estimates in an inspection report?
Identifier: e050531
Date: 03/14/2006
Question
Is there any ethical problem in including written repair or replacement estimates in our reports?
Response
Including written repair or replacement estimates in inspection reports does not violate the Code of Ethics. The Code states that “Inspectors shall not repair, replace, or upgrade, for compensation, systems or components covered by ASHI Standards of Practice….” However, this does not preclude an inspector from providing a projected cost for a repair to help a client gain a sense of the financial impact of a defect, so long as providing such additional information falls within the inspector’s area of expertise, per 2.A in the Code, and so long as the estimate does not constitute an offer to perform the work. It is important to note that some states have restrictions on the type and nature of such projected costs that an inspector may provide.