Why Do We Have Home Inspectors?
We know a home inspector checks the condition of every major component from the roof to the basement. This includes but is not limited to grounds, roof, exterior, garage, electrical, plumbing, kitchen, bathrooms, living spaces, and outbuildings. They also evaluate and describe the manually tested working order of all operable systems, i.e. windows, doors, faucets and sinks, heating and a/c systems, etc. Homes have been around forever, but home inspectors technically have only been around since the 1970s. So, when did home inspection become a thing?
They Didn’t Even Call Them Home Inspectors
Even though the term Home Inspector wasn’t coined until the 1970s, many of the services you would expect from a home inspector were performed by engineers and general contractors. In fact, they used to be called Contractor Inspections instead of Home Inspections. Because these were engineers and contractors, the inspections were mostly structural checks.
An Inspector For Every System
As the population grew and houses got older, it became recommended to check your home before you buy. This required a roofing expert, a plumbing expert, a heating and cooling expert, not to mention the engineers and contractors that started the Home Inspection industry. There became a need for a single expert that understood every major home component from roof to basement. They also needed to understand all operable systems. Having a single home inspector saved time and money.
Legislation To Protect Buyers
Home inspection got the biggest boost when legislation was passed to protect buyers. California led the way. The California court case, Easton v. Strassberger (1984), set a new precedent. The court held that real estate brokers representing sellers had an affirmative duty: “Conduct a reasonably competent and diligent inspection of the residential property listed for sale and to disclose to prospective purchasers all facts materially affecting the value or desirability of the property that such an investigation would reveal.” It didn’t take long for the rest of the nation to follow suit.
Check It Out Home Inspection Continues To Protect Buyers And Sellers
At Check It Out Home Inspection Services, we offer all the home inspection services you would expect. Electrical, plumbing, roof, structure, interior, exterior, HVAC, garage, and grounds. As a one-stop shop, we also offer sewer scoping, radon testing and oil tank searches. Click to see our full list of home inspection services.
Check It Out Home Inspection provides service to the Greater Portland and Vancouver areas. You can schedule ALL services, 24/7, with a single click or call.
Source: “The History of Home Inspections”, California Real Estate Inspection Association, 2019, www.creia.org/the-history-of-home-inspections. Accessed 27 September 2019.