Reliable Home Inspection

ReliHI performs home inspections in accordance with the the Standards of Practice of the North Carolina Home Inspector Licensure Board. Our inspections are limited, non-invasive visual examinations of the home’s readily visible and readily accessible systems and components as they exist at the date and time of the inspection.

A home inspection is not technically exhaustive and should not be interpreted as a warranty, guarantee, insurance policy, or prediction of future performance or remaining service life. Conditions may change after the inspection, components may fail without warning, and concealed or latent defects may exist that are not observable during a limited visual inspection.

Scope of the Inspection

The inspection is limited to conditions that are visible and readily accessible without dismantling, removing finishes, moving furnishings or stored belongings, damaging property, or performing destructive testing. The inspection does not eliminate all risk associated with the purchase or ownership of a property and should be considered one part of a buyer’s overall due diligence.

Excluded From the Inspection

Unless specifically contracted for in writing, the inspection does not include:

• Determining the advisability of purchasing or selling the property.
• Verifying compliance with building codes, zoning regulations, ordinances, or governmental requirements.
• Determining insurability or mortgage eligibility.
• Predicting the future performance, reliability, or remaining life expectancy of any component or system.
• Determining suitability for any specialized use.
• Cosmetic conditions that do not fall within the North Carolina Standards of Practice.
• Underground, concealed, latent, inaccessible, or seasonal conditions.
• Items that are not permanently installed.
• Swimming pools, spas, saunas, detached structures, seawalls, docks, irrigation systems, low-voltage systems, or other items excluded by the inspection agreement or the North Carolina Standards of Practice.

The inspection also does not include the detection or identification of termites, wood-destroying organisms, rodents, insects, fungi, mold, or other biological or environmental hazards unless separately contracted. At the client’s request, ReliHI can assist with coordinating separate inspections by qualified, independent pest, mold, or other specialized inspectors to be performed in conjunction with the home inspection when scheduling permits. These services are separate from the home inspection, may be subject to additional fees, and are performed independently of the standard home inspection.

Environmental Hazards

A standard home inspection does not include environmental testing or evaluation. Unless separately contracted, the inspection does not determine the presence or absence of environmental hazards, including but not limited to lead-based paint, asbestos-containing materials, mold, formaldehyde, hazardous chemicals, contaminated soil, underground storage tanks, or other environmental conditions.

ReliHI offers certain environmental testing services, including radon testing and water quality testing, as optional services that must be separately requested and contracted. These services are not included as part of a standard home inspection and are performed in accordance with their own applicable standards, procedures, and reporting requirements.

Concealed Conditions

Insulation, floor coverings, wall finishes, ceiling finishes, furniture, storage, personal belongings, vegetation, snow, standing water, weather conditions, or other obstructions may conceal defects or limit observations.

ReliHI inspectors do not move personal property, remove insulation or finishes, dismantle equipment, or perform destructive testing. Consequently, concealed conditions—including structural deficiencies, moisture intrusion, plumbing leaks, electrical defects, improper installations, deterioration, or microbial growth—may exist but cannot be identified during a limited visual inspection.

Gas Safety Policy

For the safety of our inspectors and clients, ReliHI inspectors will not activate, restore, manipulate, or place into operation any gas service, gas shutoff valve, gas piping, regulator, meter, or gas-fired appliance that is shut off, disconnected, locked out, tagged, or otherwise not operating under normal conditions at the time of the inspection.

Such components will be reported as Not Inspected in accordance with the North Carolina Standards of Practice. ReliHI assumes no responsibility for determining the reason a gas system has been shut off or for restoring gas service.

Third-Party Information

ReliHI relies on observations made during the inspection and does not guarantee the accuracy of information provided by sellers, occupants, contractors, real estate professionals, manufacturers, municipalities, or any other third party. ReliHI is not responsible for concealed conditions, intentional misrepresentation, or defects that are hidden from view.

Written Modifications Only

Any modification to the scope of the inspection or any exclusion beyond those established by the North Carolina Home Inspector Licensure Board Standards of Practice must be agreed to in writing by both parties before the inspection agreement is executed.