Buildings are huge projects that require investors and homeowners to dig deep into their pockets. For this reason, buildings must be subjected to extensive scrutiny to ensure that they are put up per the standards set by engineers, governments, homeowners associations and environmental agencies. After a thorough inspection of the building, a report is prepared to give detailed information on the findings and status of the building.
Building reports are not a guarantee that the building doesn't have blemishes. Disclaimer messages are used to point out any area that the inspectors didn't have enough information to give a true and fair view of the condition of the building. Here is relevant information regarding the scope and limitations of your building's inspection report:
Visual Inspection
Building reports are limited to sections of the building that the inspection team can see and access on the material date of inspection. Such a disclaimer implies that the issues detailed by the inspection team will only be limited to what they can see and access when they go to inspect a building. Therefore, the inspection will not include breaking structures apart, removing foliage, moving objects or removing mould and insulation fittings to see what lies underneath them. The inspection team report what is on site precisely as they perceive it.
Concealed Defects
In the course of putting up a structure, dubious contractors and workers can conceal defects to lower costs and hasten the approval of occupancy permits. At the same time, owners can also conceal defects in a building to hoodwink unsuspecting property buyers. A building inspection report cannot comment exclusively upon concealed defects or the manner in which they were carried out. However, inspectors will point out any sections they feel should be subjected to further scrutiny and investigation.
Ownership of the Report
The ownership of the report is reserved for the inspector or team of inspectors that took part in the exercise. The client, upon paying an agreed inspection fees, will be informed of any important details necessary for improving the building. Other than that, all the other information such as the procedures and methods used to accomplish the inspection are the property of the inspectors. You do not have the authority to sell or make copies for use by third parties without the express permission of the inspectors. Note that building inspection reports involve the intellectual input of the inspectors, which warrants its treatment as intellectual property under the law. It elemental to adhere to this disclaimer to avoid any court suits following the inspection of your property.
