Home
Inspection
Home inspections
were being
performed in
the mid 1950s,
and by the
early 1970s
were considered
by many
consumers to be
essential to
the real estate
transaction.
The escalating
demand was due
to a growing
desire by
homebuyers to
learn about the
condition of a
house prior to
purchase.
Meeting the
expectations of
consumers
required a
unique
discipline,
distinct from
construction,
engineering,
architecture,
or municipal
building
inspection. As
such, home
inspection
requires its
own set of
professional
guidelines and
qualifications.
The American
Society of Home
Inspectors
(ASHI) formed
in 1976 and
established the
ASHI Standards
of Practice and
Code of Ethics
to help buyers
and sellers
make real
estate
transaction
decisions based
on accurate,
objective
information.
American Society of Home
Inspectors
As the oldest,
largest and
highest profile
organization of
home inspectors
in North
America, ASHI
takes pride in
its position of
leadership. Its
Membership
works to build
public
awareness of
home inspection
and to enhance
the technical
and ethical
performance of
home
inspectors.
Standards
of Practice
The ASHI
Standards of
Practice guide
home inspectors
in the
performance of
their
inspections.
Subject to
regular review,
the Standards
of Practice
reflect
information
gained through
surveys of
conditions in
the field and
of the
consumers'
interests and
concerns.
Vigilance has
elevated ASHI's
Standards of
Practice so
that today they’re
the most widely
accepted home
inspection
guidelines in
use and are
recognized by
many government
and
professional
groups as the
definitive
standard for
professional
performance.
Code
of Ethics
ASHI's Code of
Ethics stresses
the home
inspector's
responsibility
to report the
results of the
inspection in a
strictly fair,
impartial, and
professional
manner,
avoiding
conflicts of
interest.
