(c) Home inspectors shall not:
- Offer or perform any act or service contrary to law; or
- 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.
This is from Tn (and several other states).
As others have wisely advised above, check with your boss and the HI commission (if you have one) .
It not only restricts, but allows.
(C) This rule does not limit home inspectors from:
- Reporting observations and conditions or rendering opinions of items in addition to those required in paragraphs (7) through (16) of this rule; or
- Excluding systems and components from the inspection if requested by the client, and so stated in the written contract.
(6) General Exclusions.
(a) Home inspectors are not required to report on:
5. Compliance or non-compliance with adopted codes, ordinances, statutes,
regulatory requirements or restrictions;
- Opinions expressed by licensees shall only be based on their education, experience, and honest convictions.
These are a few examples of the HI Rules that you may be expected to adhere to. You need to know them as they apply to you.
Many inspectors here come from other walks of life and have more insight in some areas, but you must remember that in HI you have no enforcement authority. So there is no reason you should feel compelled to cite a local code in your inspection report. When you step outside the HI Standards, you open yourself to liability issues. To whom? The seller for one. Consider your Insurance policy, which may not cover you for things you do outside of the HI SOP. You are allowed into the house by the seller to conduct a home inspection. If you go outside that expectation, you they may have something to say about that, in court.
Fire standards are all about safety. So is the HI Report. Talking about issues is fine. When your report demands action, your out of bounds.
As pointed out, you can not use your position in your day job to advertise your personal business.
Learn these rules verbatim. It is critical in this job.
Some other considerations for your position to consider:
(a) The home inspector shall inspect:
8. Smoke detectors.
- Hot water systems including: water heating equipment; normal operating> controls; automatic safety controls; and chimneys, flues, and vents; and
(d) The home inspector is not required to:
(ii) Fire and lawn sprinkler systems
- For the presence or condition of buried fuel storage tanks.
Ethics
(3) A licensee shall not disclose any information about the results of an inspection without the approval of the client for whom the inspection was performed, or the client’s designated representative
(7) Before the execution of a contract to perform a home inspection, a licensee shall disclose to the client any interest in a business that may affect the client. No licensee shall allow his or her interest in any business to affect the quality or results of the inspection work that the licensee may be called upon to perform.