For which aspects of an inspection does the SOP provide requirements?

The Standards of Practice (SOP) for home inspections establish a set of minimum requirements that inspectors must adhere to while conducting an inspection. This includes guidelines on the areas that must be inspected, the methodologies used, and the conditions that should be noted. By setting these minimum standards, the SOP ensures that all home inspectors provide a baseline level of service, promoting consistency and quality across inspections.

The emphasis on minimum requirements helps to ensure that essential components, such as structural integrity, safety features, and functional systems, are assessed during an inspection. These requirements serve to protect both the buyers and sellers in a real estate transaction by ensuring that no critical issues are overlooked.

While other aspects, such as aesthetics or cost evaluation, might come into play during an inspection, they are not mandated by the SOP. The SOP focuses primarily on what must be done to ensure a thorough and objective evaluation of the property, rather than subjective measurements of quality or financial assessments.