Home Inspection Agreements: Basics and Importance

The concept of putting service agreements into writing is a very common one across many home services, and home inspection services are no exception. Ensuring that all the details of the inspection are listed in writing and signed by both parties is important for protecting everyone, plus for keeping the job on-time.

At Aerolite Consulting, we offer simple, transparent contracts and agreements for all of our home inspection clients, with services ranging from standard inspections to contaminant testing solutions like radon testing, mold testing and more. In this two-part blog series, we’ll go over everything you need to know about home inspection agreements — today’s part one will dig into what these agreements are and why they’re important to both have and read in detail, while part two will go over the common elements of such agreements.

What Are Home Inspection Agreements?

Also called home inspection contracts, these agreements are simply a written document that details everything about the home inspection process, including what will be inspected, how long it will take and other important factors. Once both the inspector and client have read and signed the agreement, they’re legally bound to uphold their end of the deal.

Among other things, one of the key goals of a home inspection agreement is to give you, the client, a general idea of what to expect from the inspection process. It should also list any limitations to what will be inspected, so you know exactly what’s included and what isn’t.

Why Are Home Inspection Agreements Important?

There are a few key reasons why having a home inspection agreement is important, both for the client and inspector.

For starters, these agreements help ensure that both parties understand what’s expected of them during and after the inspection. This can help avoid any misunderstandings later on down the road.

Inspection agreements also protect both parties in the event that something goes wrong during the inspection process. For example, if the inspector gets injured while on your property, a well-written agreement should list you, the client, as being held harmless. This means that you wouldn’t be held liable for any medical bills or other damages.

Last but not least, home inspection agreements help keep the inspection process running smoothly by providing a clear timeline and list of. By having everything in writing, both parties can refer back to the agreement if there are any questions or issues that come up.

Risks of No Inspection Contract

If you’re thinking about skipping out on a home inspection contract, there are a few risks that you should be aware of. For starters, you could end up being held liable for any accidents or injuries that occur during the inspection process. Additionally, without a contract in place, you may not be entitled to certain protections — like having the inspector re-inspect the property if you’re not satisfied with the initial results.

For this reason, we always utilize documentation and written contracts for our inspections. To learn more about this, or for information on any of our home inspection services, speak to the team at Aerolite Consulting today.