Submit a Concern
While the Home Inspection Association BC (HIABC) works hard to prepare our members to be excellent home inspectors, there are times when clients feel their home inspection let them down.
Have a Concern About Your Home Inspection?
If you have a concern about an inspection completed by an HIABC member, we recommend starting with your home inspector. Many concerns can be clarified or resolved directly between the homeowner and inspector.
Step 1 – Contact Your Home Inspector
Contact your inspector as soon as possible and explain:
- what the concern is;
- when and how it was discovered; and
- what you believe may have been missed during the inspection.
Whenever possible, give your inspector an opportunity to review the concern before repairs or alterations are made. Once an area has been repaired, removed, opened, or changed, it may be difficult to determine what was reasonably visible at the time of the original inspection.
Step 2 – If the Matter Cannot Be Resolved
If you and your inspector are unable to resolve the matter, you may contact the HIABC PIP Administrator for assistance.
HIABC is currently developing a new online system for submitting and managing concerns. In the meantime, please download and complete our intake review form in full, then submit it along with any supporting documentation directly to the PIP Administrator.
Email: [email protected]
Before Submitting for a Review
Before contacting HIABC, it is helpful to understand what a home inspection includes—and its limitations.
A home inspection is not designed to identify every possible defect in a home. It is a professional opinion of the condition of the home based on what the inspector can reasonably observe at the time of the inspection.
Who Is the Home Inspection For?
A home inspection is performed for the client who hired the home inspector, typically a prospective buyer, to help them make an informed decision about the property.
The inspection report and its findings are prepared specifically for that client and are subject to the terms of the inspection agreement between the client and the home inspector.
The report is not prepared for the seller or current homeowner, and they should not rely on the inspection report as an assessment or certification of their home. A seller may disagree with an inspector’s observations; however, the inspector’s responsibility is to their client and to report conditions observed during the inspection in accordance with the HIABC Scope of Inspection.
Scope of Inspection
All HIABC member inspectors are required to follow the HIABC Scope of Inspection, which establishes the minimum standards for an HIABC home inspection.
The Scope forms part of the inspection agreement between you and your inspector and defines what the inspector is—and is not—required to inspect.
If a concern is brought to HIABC, the Scope of Inspection will be an important part of our review.
You can review the form here: Scope of Inspection
Understanding the Limitations of a Home Inspection
There can be important limitations to every home inspection:
- Time – A home inspection takes place within a limited period of time. The inspector is assessing numerous systems and components and reporting on their observed condition.
- Readily Visible and Accessible Conditions – Inspectors can only report on conditions that are reasonably visible and accessible at the time of the inspection. Defects may be hidden by personal belongings, furniture, vegetation, finishes, stored items, or components of the home itself.
- Non-Destructive Inspection – A home inspection is non-destructive. Inspectors do not open walls, remove finishes, dismantle equipment, or damage the property in order to investigate a condition.
- Inspector Safety – Inspectors must put safety first. Conditions such as slippery or steep roofs, unsafe ladder placement, weather, restricted access, animal waste, or other hazards may limit what can safely be inspected.
- Not Insurance or a Warranty – A home inspection is not an insurance policy, warranty, or guarantee that a home is free from defects. It is a professional opinion based on a time-limited, non-destructive inspection of readily visible and accessible components.