Washington Administrative Code › Title 308 - Licensing, Department of (See also Titles 36, 98 and 196) › Chapter 308-408C - Standards of practice › Section 308-408C-020 - Ethics-Statement of purpose

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
In order to ensure the integrity and high standard of skill and
				practice in the home inspection profession, the following rules of conduct and
				ethics shall be binding upon the inspector.
The home inspector must:
(1) Provide home inspection services that
			 conform to the Washington state home inspectors' SOP.
(2) Provide full written disclosure, to the
			 home inspector's client, of any business , familial, or financial relationships
			 or other conflicts of interest between the home inspector and any other party
			 to the transaction. Written disclosure is required prior to the client's
			 signing of the preinspection agreement. Disclosure is required to ensure the
			 consumer's right to freely pick a home inspector of the buyer's or seller's
			 choice and prevent collusion between the home inspector and the parties to the
			 transaction. Parties may include, but are not limited to, buyers, sellers,
			 appraisers, real estate licensees, mortgage representatives, title companies,
			 vendors and service contractors.
(3) Act as an unbiased party and discharge
			 his or her duties with integrity and fidelity to the client.
(4) Perform services and express opinions
			 based on genuine conviction and only within the inspector's area of education,
			 training, or expertise.
(5) Not
			 conduct a home inspection or prepare a home inspection report that knowingly
			 minimizes, compromises or attempts to balance information about defects for the
			 purpose of garnering future referrals.
(6) Not provide services that constitute the
			 unauthorized practice of any profession that requires a special license when
			 the inspector does not hold that license.
(7) Not accept compensation for a home
			 inspection from more than one party without written disclosure to the
			 inspector's client(s).
(8) Not for
			 one year after completion of the inspection repair, replace, or upgrade for
			 compensation components or systems on any building inspected - This section
			 applies to the inspector's firm and other employees or principals of that firm
			 or affiliated firms.
(9) Not offer
			 an inducement to any individual or entity by providing compensation or reward
			 in exchange for performing an inspection.
(10) Not disclose information contained in
			 the inspection report without client approval or as required by law. However,
			 at their discretion inspectors may disclose when practical observed safety or
			 health hazards to occupants or others that are exposed to such
			 hazards.
(11) Not advertise
			 previous experience in an associated trade as experience in the home inspection
			 profession. An inspector's advertised inspection experience will reflect only
			 the inspector's experience as a home inspector and inspectors shall not
			 advertise, market or promote their home inspection services or qualifications
			 in a fraudulent, false, deceptive or misleading manner.
(12) Not accept a home inspection referral or
			 perform a home inspection when assignment of the inspection is contingent upon
			 the inspector reporting predetermined conditions.
Statutory Authority:
				  RCW
				  18.280.050 and
				  18.280.060(6).
				  09-08-014, § 308-408C-020, filed 3/20/09, effective
				  4/20/09.