9. Ethics

9.  Ethics

Inspectors performing inspections in accordance with this Standard must maintain a high level of business ethics.

9.1  Duty to the Client

9.1.1  The inspector shall be fair, honest, impartial, and act in good faith in all his/her dealings with clients and prospective clients.

9.1.2  The inspector-member shall be truthful regarding his/her services and qualifications.

9.1.3  The inspector shall always act in the best interests of the client, unless doing so violates a law or statute.

9.1.4  The inspector shall not communicate any information about a client or his/her inspection to anyone else without the client’s prior written consent, except when the information may affect the safety of others, or when failure to communicate the information would violate a law or statute.

9.2  Scope of Work

9.2.1  The inspector shall use a written Scope of Work Agreement that specifies the services to be performed, the limitations of services, and fees.

9.2.2  The inspector shall substantially follow this Standard unless the Scope of Work indicates otherwise.

9.3  Conflicts of Interest

9.3.1  The inspector shall have no undisclosed conflict of interest with the client.

9.3.2  The inspector may not accept or offer undisclosed commissions, rebates, profits or other benefit from real estate agents, brokers or any third parties having financial interest in the sale of the property or the outcome of an inspection. 

9.3.3  The inspector may not offer or provide any financial compensation directly or indirectly to any real estate agent, real estate broker, or real estate company for referrals or for inclusion on lists of preferred and/or affiliated inspectors or inspection companies.

9.3.4  The inspector shall not perform or offer to perform, for an additional fee, any repairs or repair-associated services to the structure for which the inspector or inspector's company has prepared a commercial inspection report for a period of 12 months. This provision shall not include services to components and/or systems that are not included in the Scope of Work.

9.4  Duty to the Public and Profession

9.4.1  The inspector shall not engage in any practices that could be damaging to the client, or bring discredit to InterNACHI®, CCPIA, or the inspection industry.

9.4.2  The inspector shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, familial status, or handicap, and shall comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws concerning discrimination.

9.4.3  The inspector shall comply with all governmental rules and licensing requirements in the jurisdiction where he/she conducts business. 

END of Standards of Practice