Current through Register Vol. 41, No. 3, September 23, 2024
A. Home
inspection reports shall contain:
1.
Information pertaining to the licensee, including:
a. Licensee's name;
b. Business address;
c. Telephone number; and
d. License number and expiration date, to be
followed by "NRS" if so designated and performing a home inspection on a new
residential structure;
2.
The name, address, and telephone number of the client or the client's
authorized representative, if available at the time of the
inspection;
3. The physical address
of the residential property inspected; and
4. The date, time (to include both start and
finish times of the home inspection), and weather conditions at the time of the
home inspection.
B. In
conducting a home inspection and reporting its findings, the home inspector, at
a minimum, shall inspect the condition of and shall describe in writing the
composition or characteristics of the following readily accessible components
and readily observable defects, except as may be limited in the home inspection
contract agreement:
1. Structural system.
a. Foundation.
b. Framing.
c. Stairs.
d. Crawl space; the method of inspecting the
crawl space shall be noted and explained in the home inspection report. If the
crawl space cannot be inspected, the licensee shall explain in the home
inspection report why this component was not inspected.
e. Crawl space ventilation and vapor
barriers.
f. Slab floor, when
present.
g. Floors, ceilings, and
walls.
2. Roof structure,
attic, and insulation.
a. Roof covering. The
method of inspecting the roof covering shall be noted and explained in the home
inspection report. If the roof covering cannot be inspected, the licensee shall
explain in the home inspection report why this component was not
inspected.
b. Roof
ventilation.
c. Roof drainage
system, to include gutters and downspouts.
d. Roof flashings, if readily
visible.
e. Skylights, chimneys,
and roof penetrations, but not antennae or other roof attachments.
f. Roof framing and sheathing.
g. Attic, unless area is not readily
accessible.
h. Attic
insulation.
3. Exterior
of residential building or NRS.
a. Wall
covering, flashing, and trim.
b.
Readily accessible doors and windows, but not the operation of associated
security locks, devices, or systems.
c. Decks, balconies, stoops, steps, porches,
attached garages, carports, and any associated railings that are adjacent to
the residential building or NRS and on the same property but not associated
screening, shutters, awnings, storm windows, detached garages, or storm
doors.
d. Eaves, soffits, and
fascias where readily accessible from ground level.
e. Walkways, grade steps, patios, and
driveways, but not fences or privacy walls.
f. Vegetation, trees, grading, drainage, and
any retaining walls adjacent to the residential building or NRS.
g. Visible exterior portions of
chimneys.
4. Interior of
residential building or NRS.
a. Interior
walls, ceilings, and floors of residential building or NRS and any adjacent
garage.
b. Steps, stairways,
railings, and balconies and associated railings.
c. Countertops and installed cabinets,
including hardware.
d. Doors and
windows, but not the operation of associated security locks, devices, or
systems.
e. Garage doors and
permanently mounted and installed garage door operators. The automatic safety
reverse function of garage door openers shall be tested, either by physical
obstruction as specified by the manufacturer, or by breaking the beam of the
electronic photo eye but only when the test can be safely performed and will
not risk damage to the door, the opener, any nearby structure, or any stored
items.
f. Fireplaces, venting
systems, hearths, dampers, and fireboxes, but not mantles, fire screens and
doors, seals, and gaskets.
g. Solid
fuel burning appliances, if applicable.
5. Plumbing system.
a. Interior water supply and distribution
systems, including water supply lines and all fixtures and faucets, but not
water conditioning systems or fire sprinkler systems.
b. Water drainage, waste, and vent systems,
including all fixtures.
c. Drainage
sumps, sump pumps, and related piping.
d. Water heating equipment, including energy
source and related vent systems, flues, and chimneys, but not solar water
heating systems.
e. Fuel storage
and distribution systems for visible leaks.
6. Electrical system.
a. Service drop.
b. Service entrance conductors, cables, and
raceways.
c. Service equipment and
main disconnects.
d. Service
grounding.
e. Interior components
of service panels and sub panels, including feeders.
f. Conductors.
g. Overcurrent protection devices.
h. Readily accessible installed lighting
fixtures, switches, and receptacles.
i. Ground fault circuit
interrupters.
j. Presence or
absence of smoke alarms.
k.
Presence of solid conductor aluminum branch circuit wiring.
l. Arc fault interrupters shall be noted if
installed but not tested if equipment is attached to them.
7. Heating system.
a. Heating equipment, including operating
controls, but not heat exchangers, gas logs, built-in gas burning appliances,
grills, stoves, space heaters, solar heating devices, or heating system
accessories such as humidifiers, air purifiers, motorized dampers, and heat
reclaimers.
b. Energy
source.
c. Heating distribution
system.
d. Vent systems, flues, and
chimneys, including dampers.
8. Air conditioning system.
a. Central and installed wall air
conditioning equipment.
b.
Operating controls, access panels, and covers.
c. Energy source.
d. Cooling distribution system.
C. Systems in the home
that are turned off, winterized, or otherwise secured so that they do not
respond to normal activation using standard operating controls need not be put
into operating condition. The home inspector shall state, in writing, the
reason these systems or components were not inspected.
D. For any smoke alarms that are readily
accessible in the residential building or NRS, the home inspection report must
include a determination of whether the smoke alarms are in good working order
as defined in
18VAC15-40-10.
1. A home inspector is not required to
operate the test function of a smoke alarm if the smoke alarm is part of a
central alarm system or security system in which such testing will
automatically alert a fire department or other authority. To the extent the
home inspector is unable to determine whether testing will cause an automatic
alert, the home inspector is not required to operate the test function of the
smoke alarm.
2. If a smoke alarm is
not readily accessible or there are any limitations in determining whether it
is in good working order, the home inspection report must state that it is not
readily accessible or describe such limitations, as applicable.
3. The home inspection report must include
the substance of the following: It is recommended that a home have smoke alarms
on each level of the dwelling and in every bedroom or sleeping area. Clients
should replace any existing smoke alarms that are not in good working order
with new ones and install smoke alarms where they may be missing or not
properly located. Any test of a smoke alarm during a home inspection only
reflects its condition at the time of inspection and is not a guarantee,
warranty, or any form of insurance. A test performed during the home inspection
does not supersede the smoke alarm manufacturer's testing recommendations.
Clients should follow the manufacturer's instructions for proper placement,
installation, and maintenance.
E. In accordance with §
54.1-517.2:1 of the Code of
Virginia, if a home inspector observes the presence of any shade of yellow
corrugated stainless steel tubing during a home inspection in a home that was
built prior to the adoption of the 2006 Virginia Construction Code, effective
May 1, 2008, the home inspector shall include that observation in the report
along with the following statement: "Manufacturers believe that this product is
safer if properly bonded and grounded as required by the manufacturer's
installation instructions. Proper bonding and grounding of the product should
be determined by a contractor licensed to perform the work in the Commonwealth
of Virginia."
Statutory Authority: §§
54.1-201 and 54.1-501 of the Code of
Virginia.
