Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics Master Inspectors

The Registered Master Inspector™ RMI™ must stay in good standing, inspect without prejudice, or bias and remain highly competent in identifying and documenting visible defects in such a way as all parties involved in the transaction will, after reading the property report, reach a similar conclusion and understanding as to the extent of the defects so the client may correctly identify the property's suitability to their individual threshold for maintenance and repair. 

Registered Master Inspectors represents excellence in client service, communication, inspection and reporting. This means delivering consistently high standards of service to clients in all aspects of the inspection process.  

Inspectors must put their safety first and clearly exclude in writing any areas that could not be inspected due to safety concerns, for example climbing onto wet or steep roofs, or entering subfloors and ceiling spaces with limited access and wearing appropriate personal protective equipment, mask, gloves, glasses, knee protectors etc. 

Inspections must be carried out within the members experience, qualifications, and capabilities. This means inspectors must clearly advise in writing any limitations prior to carrying out the inspection or identified during the inspection, and recommend further evaluation required. For example, monolithic plaster clad homes that cannot reasonably be assessed for weathertightness with a visual inspection and require moisture ingress and or invasive inspections.  

Inspectors must make all safe and reasonable attempts to visually inspect all accessible areas of a property without interference. This means taking the time necessary to methodically inspect all accessible areas of a property and explaining to clients, buyers, sellers, and agents that the inspector must not be disturbed during the inspection process. 

Inspectors must make all reasonable attempts to document defects in such a way as the extent of the defect is understood by all readers of the report and that all readers reach a similar conclusion as the extent of the defect. This means taking the time to clearly explain the defect in the report. 

Inspections and reports must be without prejudice or bias. This means avoiding inspections of properties being sold or purchased by friends, family and relatives,  keeping relationships with real estate agents professional and not offering or accepting to repair faults identified.

Inspect and report only. This means that the inspection is NOT building code compliance inspection (unless specifically identified as such) or a building warranty. The purpose of the report is to identify areas of interest/concern, NOT to provide independent expert advice on specific elements and NOT to recommend solutions to faults identified or to offer a repair of faults identified. The purpose of the inspection is to provide an impartial and visually thorough account of the properties general state being the next best step toward assisting the person commissioning the report in determining their individual threshold for maintenance and repair.

Inspectors must adhere to local property inspection regulations. This means meeting all regulatory body requirements and conditions imposed on inspectors in your state, province, area, and country and remaining in good standing with those regulations.  

It is recommended Inspectors stay updated with industry alerts, building regulations and equipment improvements. This means using the latest information on products, materials, systems, regulations, and any equipment that would demonstrably improve safety or inspection capabilities.

It is recommended inspectors provide adequate communications. This means using technologies like email auto reply, vehicle Bluetooth, smart watches, and smart phones to reduce the time between client contact and the inspector’s response. While some inspectors have a secretary to field calls and emails many inspectors do all tasks associated with running their business, from office management to vehicle maintenance. Utilizing technology can improve client experience.

Keep it professional. This means abusive, harassing, bullying and demanding behavior of any kind has no place within the association, members and non-members who display this type of behavior will be removed and ignored by the association without notice.  Remember, members give their time freely to assist the association and its members. 

Inspection reports must contain a suitable Limit of Liability and Scope of Inspection. This means clearly explaining what happens in the event of an omission or error and the limit of liability of the omission or error and what the inspection includes and excludes.

It is recommended that inspectors seek legal and technical advice with regards to their business and website structure. This means seeking advice on the merits of forming a limited liability company, obtaining suitable professional Indemnity insurance, and operating a secure website with adequate Terms of Service conditions and issuing reports with adequate Limit of Liability, Scope of Inspection information. 

Ultimately a properly equipped, experienced inspector with a professionally structured business, that conducts detailed building inspections, within their capabilities, in a safe, methodical, and impartial way, without prejudice or bias and produces clear, concise, impartial, and detailed inspection reports that clearly indicate the limits of the inspection, is most likely to obtain consistent client satisfaction and improved business performance. That is a Master Inspector. 

Use of this website and member services is permitted only on agreement to the following conditions

The association’s trademarks, logos, associations seals, and the associations information is strictly copyright and its use are permitted by written authorisation only, all other use is forbidden. Report unauthorised use to legalservices@masterinspector.org.au

The Master Inspector Association of Australia (masterinspector.org.au) and its Members known as Registered Master Inspectors (RMI’s) are in no way responsible financially or otherwise for individual members actions, omissions, statements, and liability, nor is any member responsible financially or otherwise to the association or its members other than to pay the annual membership fees as and when they fall due.

The purpose of the members report is to identify areas of interest/concern, NOT to provide independent expert advice on specific elements and NOT to recommend solutions to faults identified. The purpose of the Inspection is to provide an impartial visual account of the property’s general state being the next best step toward assisting a client in determining the appropriateness of the inspected property to their individual threshold for maintenance and repair.

Persons engaging an association member agree and understand they are required to make their own assessment of the inspector’s suitability to perform a property inspection on their behalf and the Master Inspector Association does not guarantee or warrant any inspection carried out by individual association members and is not liable for any action, omission, error, fault, or negligence as a result of a member’s inspection, report, or actions. The use of the association’s logos, associations seals, and associations information within member sites and any other location or place is also governed by these conditions.

By engaging a Master inspector Association of USA Member to the extent permitted by law the Members client hereby release, waive, discharge and hold blameless the Master Inspector Association, its members and all persons entities and contractors connected to the Master Inspector Association from any and all liability for omissions, negligence, personal injury (including mental injury), property damage, property theft, loss of personal equipment and all other foreseeable and unforeseen risks, claims or actions of any kind (including negligence) whatever and however occurring which may arise, at any time, from or in connection with, directly or indirectly, as a consequence of Master Inspection Association Members carrying out Property Inspections on behalf of clients. 

The Members property report is not a Building Code inspection or certification of compliance with the Code. It is also not a statement that the property complies with the requirements of any other Act, regulation, or by-law. Nor is the property report a warranty against problems developing with the building after the date of the report. Members inspections should not be confused with an appraisal, building code inspection or any guarantee of any kind, but as a tool to aid you to be better prepared and knowledgeable.

The member may make All reasonable attempts to identify any significant defects visible at the time of the inspection. The Member has not moved furniture, fixtures, stored items, soils, plants, checked window/door locks, etc. at the time of inspection. Members cannot see inside walls or other concealed areas and cannot detect damage or defects that are not visible in most cases. 

Using a Master Inspection Association Member to carry out an inspection of a property is not a guarantee the property complies with any Act, Building Code or Council bylaw, nor is it a guarantee all defects will be detected. Any area not specifically identified in the members report is excluded from the scope of the inspection.

The aid of testing equipment may be used at the time of inspection, but these tools have limitations and cannot detect defects in all circumstances. Whether or not services have been used for some time prior to an inspection being carried out may affect the detection of leaks and other defects. For example, in the case of a shower enclosure, the absence of any dampness at the time of inspection does not necessarily mean that the enclosure will not leak.

By ordering an inspection by a Master Inspector Association Member, the Client acknowledges that the Client has reviewed, understood, and accepted the Master Inspector Association of USA Terms and Conditions AND the Individual member carrying out the inspection Terms and Conditions and the SCOPE OF INSPECTION within the members inspection report. 

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