1. Provide a written contract, signed by the client or the client’s legal representative that shall:

2. Inspect readily visible and readily accessible installed systems and components listed in this rule; and

3. Submit a written report to the client that shall at a minimum:

1. Reporting observations and conditions or rendering opinions of items in addition to those required in paragraphs (7) through (16) of this rule; or

2. Excluding systems and components from the inspection if requested by the client, and so stated in the written contract.

1. A report on any system or component inspected that, in the opinion of the home inspector, is significantly deficient;

2. A list of any systems or components that were designated for inspection in this rule but that were not inspected;

3. The reason a system or component listed in accordance with part (5)(a)2. was not inspected;

4. A statement that the report does not address environmental hazards, including:

5. A statement that the report does not address subterranean systems or system components (operational or nonoperational), including:

1. Life expectancy of any component or system;

2. The cause(s) of the need for a repair;

3. The methods, materials, and costs of corrections;

4. The suitability of the property for any specialized use;

5. Compliance or non-compliance with adopted codes, ordinances, statutes, regulatory requirements or restrictions;

6. The market value of the property or its marketability;

7. The advisability or inadvisability of purchase of the property;

8. Any component or system that was not inspected;

9. The presence or absence of pests such as wood damaging organisms, rodents, or insects; or

10. Cosmetic damage, underground items, or items not permanently installed.

1. Offer warranties or guarantees of any kind;

2. Calculate the strength, adequacy, or efficiency of any system or component;

3. Enter any area or perform any procedure that may damage the property or its components or be dangerous to or adversely affect the health or safety of the home inspector or other persons;

4. Operate any system or component that is shut down or otherwise inoperable;

5. Operate any system or component that does not respond to normal operating controls;

6. Move personal items, panels, furniture, equipment, plant life, soil, snow, ice, or debris that obstructs access or visibility;

7. Determine the effectiveness of any system installed to control or remove suspected hazardous substances;

8. Predict future condition, including but not limited to failure of components;

9. Project operating costs of components;

10. Evaluate acoustical characteristics of any system or component; or

11. Inspect special equipment or accessories that are not listed as components to be inspected in this rule.

1. Offer or perform any act or service contrary to law; or

2. Offer or perform engineering, architectural, plumbing, electrical or any other job function requiring a license in this state for the same client unless the client is advised thereof and consents thereto.

1. Heating equipment;

2. Normal operating controls;

3. Automatic safety controls;

4. Chimneys, flues, and vents, where readily visible;

5. Solid fuel heating devices;

6. Heat distribution systems including fans, pumps, ducts and piping, insulation, air filters, registers, radiators, fan coil units, convectors; and

7. The presence of an installed heat source in each room.

1. The energy source for the system; and

2. The heating equipment and distribution type.

1. Operate heating systems when weather conditions or other circumstances may cause equipment damage;

2. Operate automatic safety controls;

3. Ignite or extinguish solid fuel fires; or

4. Inspect:

1. Central air conditioning and through-the-wall installed cooling systems including:

2. Distribution systems including:

1. The energy source for the system; and

2. The cooling equipment type.

1. Operate cooling systems when weather conditions or other circumstances may cause equipment damage;

2. Inspect window air conditioners; or

3. Inspect the uniformity or adequacy of cool-air supply to the various rooms.

1. Service entrance conductors;

2. Service equipment, grounding equipment, main overcurrent device, and main and distribution panels;

3. Amperage and voltage ratings of the service;

4. Branch circuit conductors, their overcurrent devices, and the compatibility of their ampacities and voltages;

5. The operation of a representative number of installed ceiling fans, lighting fixtures, switches and receptacles located inside the house, garage, and on the dwelling's exterior walls;

6. The polarity and grounding of all receptacles within six feet of interior plumbing fixtures, and all receptacles in the garage or carport, and on the exterior of inspected structures;

7. The operation of ground fault circuit interrupters; and

8. Smoke detectors.

1. Service amperage and voltage;

2. Service entry conductor materials;

3. The service type as being overhead or underground; and

4. The location of main and distribution panels.

1. Insert any tool, probe, or testing device inside the panels;

2. Test or operate any overcurrent device except ground fault circuit interrupters;

3. Dismantle any electrical device or control other than to remove the covers of the main and auxiliary distribution panels; or

4. Inspect:

1. Interior water supply and distribution system, including: piping materials, supports, and insulation; fixtures and faucets; functional flow; leaks; and cross connections;

2. Interior drain, waste, and vent system, including: traps; drain, waste, and vent piping; piping supports and pipe insulation; leaks; and functional drainage;

3. Hot water systems including: water heating equipment; normal operating controls; automatic safety controls; and chimneys, flues, and vents; and

4. Sump pumps.

(b) The home inspector shall describe:

1. Water supply and distribution piping materials;

2. Drain, waste, and vent piping materials;

3. Water heating equipment; and

4. The location of any main water supply shutoff device.

1. State the effectiveness of anti-siphon devices;

2. Determine whether water supply and waste disposal systems are public or private;

3. Operate automatic safety controls;

4. Operate any valve except water closet flush valves, fixture faucets, and hose faucets;

5. Inspect:

6. Inspect the system for proper sizing, design, or use of proper materials.

1. Foundation;

2. Floors;

3. Walls;

4. Columns or piers;

5. Ceilings; and

6. Roofs.

1. Foundation;

2. Floor structure;

3. Wall structure;

4. Columns or piers;

5. Ceiling structure; and

6. Roof structure.

1. Probe structural components where deterioration is suspected;

2. Enter underfloor crawl spaces, basements, and attic spaces except when access is obstructed, when entry could damage the property, or when dangerous or adverse situations are suspected;

3. Report the methods used to inspect underfloor crawl spaces and attics; and

4. Report signs of water penetration into the building or signs of condensation on building components.

1. Roof coverings;

2. Roof drainage systems;

3. Flashings;

4. Skylights, chimneys, and roof penetrations; and

5. Signs of leaks or abnormal condensation on building components.

1. Describe the type of roof covering materials; and

2. Report the methods used to inspect the roofing.

1. Walk on the roofing; or

2. Inspect attached accessories including solar systems, antennae, and lightning arrestors.

1. Wall cladding, flashings, and trim;

2. Entryway doors and a representative number of windows;

3. Garage door operators;

4. Decks, balconies, stoops, steps, areaways, porches and applicable railings;

5. Eaves, soffits, and fascias; and

6. Vegetation, grading, drainage, driveways, patios, walkways, and retaining walls with respect to their effect on the condition of the building.

1. Describe wall cladding materials;

2. Operate all entryway doors and a representative number of windows;

3. Operate garage doors manually or by using permanently installed controls for any garage door operator;

4. Report whether or not any garage door operator will automatically reverse or stop when meeting reasonable resistance during closing; and

5. Probe exterior wood components where deterioration is suspected.

1. Storm windows, storm doors, screening, shutters, awnings, and similar seasonal accessories;

2. Fences;

3. For the presence of safety glazing in doors and windows;

4. Garage door operator remote control transmitters;

5. Geological conditions;

6. Soil conditions;

7. Recreational facilities (including spas, saunas, steam baths, swimming pools, tennis courts, playground equipment, and other exercise, entertainment, or athletic facilities), except as otherwise provided in this rule;

8. Detached buildings or structures; or

9. For the presence or condition of buried fuel storage tanks.

1. Walls, ceiling, and floors;

2. Steps, stairways, balconies, and railings;

3. Counters and a representative number of built-in cabinets; and

4. A representative number of doors and windows.

1. Operate a representative number of windows and interior doors; and

2. Report signs of water penetration into the building or signs of condensation on building components.

1. Paint, wallpaper, and other finish treatments on the interior walls, ceilings, and floors;

2. Carpeting; or

3. Draperies, blinds, or other window treatments.

1. Insulation and vapor retarders in unfinished spaces;

2. Ventilation of attics and foundation areas;

3. Kitchen, bathroom, and laundry venting systems; and

4. The operation of any readily accessible attic ventilation fan, and, when temperature permits, the operation of any readily accessible thermostatic control.

1. Insulation in unfinished spaces; and

2. The absence of insulation in unfinished space at conditioned surfaces.

1. Concealed insulation and vapor retarders; or

2. Venting equipment that is integral with household appliances.

1. Permanently installed, dishwasher(s) through a normal cycle;

2. Range(s), cook top(s), and permanently installed oven(s);

3. Trash compactor(s);

4. Garbage disposal(s);

5. Ventilation equipment or range hood(s); and

6. Permanently installed microwave oven(s).

1. Clocks, timers, self-cleaning oven functions, or thermostats for calibration or automatic operation;

2. Non built-in appliances; or

3. Refrigeration units.

1. Appliances in use; or