Buyers may feel tempted to skip an inspection in a seller’s market or to hire an inspector to walk through their dream home and point out any problems.

Sellers might believe that a similar inspection will help them stand out in a buyer’s marketplace. They should disclose all information upfront so buyers know what to expect.

Consumers should be cautious when hiring inspectors that offer walkthroughs or abbreviated inspections. Inspectors must follow TREC’s Real Estate Inspector Standards of Practice and provide their findings to the client via the mandatory inspection form. These requirements are intended to give information to the consumer about the general condition of a home and to highlight any safety issues. These requirements are not followed in walkthrough inspections. In Texas, the Texas Real Estate Commission can discipline inspectors for performing walkthrough inspections.

These walkthroughs may not be acceptable inspection reports to settle disputes with home warranty companies, provide to certain lenders, and don’t show the whole picture of the property’s potential problems the same way as a standard inspection.

TREC rules require home inspectors who are licensed to conduct inspections in Texas to adhere to the Real Estate Inspector Standards of Practice. These SOPs outline the minimum requirements to perform a real estate inspection for a potential buyer or seller of a one-to four-family dwelling or most residential properties. Texas requires that all inspector license holders must provide Texas clients with a completed Property Inspector Report Form (REI7-6) initial. This report is independent of any other reports the inspector may provide.

These standards are in effect when a licensed professional inspector or real-estate inspector accepts work to inspect a property for a potential buyer or seller.

To narrow down your search for inspectors, use TREC’s License Holder Search. It is also possible to check if an inspector has a history of disciplinary violations and view recent educational courses.

Original Blog: https://www.trec.texas.gov/article/what-consumers-should-know-about-texas-property-inspections