Building inspectors may not be liable for unseen damages or damages that occur after inspection.
Building inspectors exam a building's construction, alterations and/or repairs to ensure they comply with building codes and ordinances, zoning regulations and contract specifications. Additionally, in areas where disasters, such as hurricanes and earthquakes are prevalent, building inspectors will monitor safety regulations of the building's structure to ensure it meets those regulations.
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1. Check the building inspector's Inspection Agreement or contract before you have them inspect your building. Look for clauses that explicitly state what they are liable for and what they are not liable for. For example, if the contract states the inspector's company is not liable for defects not seen by a visual inspection, that company is not liable for any costs that incur from damages not listed in the inspection document.
2. Contact your state's building inspector licensing office to obtain a copy of the laws and regulations on what building inspectors are liable for in your state. Each state varies on what it holds building inspectors liable for. For example, Arkansas requires home inspectors to carry a $100,000 liability policy, whereas other states, such as Florida, do not.
3. Ask the company the building inspector is employed by to see if it provides specialty inspections. Building inspection companies may offer specialty inspections that go beyond a general inspection, which is simply a visual walk through of the building. Specialty inspections include safety regulations, HUD certification and state-specific building code regulations.
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