The code

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The code of ethics

The code of ethics is like the standards of practice, a guideline set by the state and various organizations.  We use both N.A.C.H.I. and the state of Tennessee’s code of ethics they are listed below.

n.a.c.h.i code of ethics

The National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI) promotes a high standard of professionalism, business ethics and inspection procedures. NACHI members subscribe to the following Code of Ethics in the course of their business.
  1. Duty to the Public
    1. The NACHI member shall abide by the Code of Ethics and substantially follow the NACHI Standards of Practice.
    2. The NACHI member shall not engage in any practices that could be damaging to the public or bring discredit to the home inspection industry.
    3. The NACHI member shall be fair, honest, impartial, and act in good faith in dealing with the public.
    4. The NACHI member shall not discriminate in any business activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, sexual orientation, or handicap and shall comply with all federal, state and local laws concerning discrimination.
    5. The NACHI member shall be truthful regarding his/her services & qualifications.
    6. The NACHI member shall have no undisclosed conflict of interest with the client, nor shall the NACHI member accept or offer any undisclosed commissions, rebates, profits or other benefit, nor shall the NACHI member accept or offer any disclosed or undisclosed commissions, rebates, profits or other benefit from from real estate agents, brokers or any third parties having financial interest in the sale of the property nor shall the NACHI member offer or provide any disclosed or undisclosed financial compensation directly or indirectly to any real estate agent, real estate broker or real estate company for referrals or for inclusion on lists of preferred and/or affiliated inspectors or inspection companies.
    7. The NACHI member shall not communicate any information about an inspection to anyone except the client without the prior written consent of the client, except where it may affect the safety of others or violates a law or statute.
    8. The NACHI member shall always act in the interest of the client, unless doing so violates a law, statute or this Code of Ethics.
    9. The NACHI member shall use a written contract that specifies the services to be performed, limitations of services and fees.
    10. The NACHI member shall comply with all government rules and licensing requirements of the jurisdiction where he/she conducts business.
    11. The NACHI member shall not perform or offer to perform, for an additional fee, any repairs or associated services to structure on which the member or member's company has prepared a home inspection report, for a period of 12 months. This provision shall not include services to components and/or systems which are not included in the NACHI standards of practice. 

  2. Duty to Continue Education
    1. The NACHI member shall comply with NACHI's current Continuing Education Requirements.
    2. The NACHI member shall pass the NACHI's Online Inspector Exam once every calendar year.

  3. Duty to the Profession and NACHI
    1. The NACHI member shall strive to improve the Home Inspection Industry by sharing his/her lessons and/or experiences for the benefit of all. This does not preclude the member from copyrighting or marketing his/her expertise to other Inspectors or the public in any manner permitted by law.
    2. The NACHI member shall assist the NACHI leadership in disseminating and publicizing the benefits of NACHI membership.
    3. The NACHI member shall not engage in any act or practice that could be deemed damaging, seditious or destructive to NACHI, fellow NACHI members, NACHI employees, leadership or directors.  Member(s) accused of acting or deemed in violation of such rules shall be reviewed by the Ethics committee for possible sanctions and/or expulsion from NACHI.
    4. The NACHI member shall abide by NACHI's current membership requirements.
    5. The NACHI member shall abide by NACHI's current message board rules.

Tennessee code of ethics

0780-5-12-.11 CODE OF ETHICS.

(1) Licensees shall discharge their duties with fidelity to the public, their clients, and with fairness and impartiality to all.

(2) Opinions expressed by licensees shall only be based on their education, experience, and honest convictions.

(3) A licensee shall not disclose any information about the results of an inspection without the approval of the client for whom the inspection was performed, or the client's designated representative.

(4) No licensee shall accept compensation or any other consideration from more than one interested party for the same service without the consent of all interested parties.

(5) No licensee shall accept or offer commissions or allowances, directly or indirectly, from other parties dealing with the client in connection with work for which the licensee is responsible.

September, 2006 (Revised) 21 HOME INSPECTORS CHAPTER 0780-5-12 (Rule 0780-5-12-.11, continued)

(6) No licensee shall express, within the context of an inspection, an appraisal or opinion of the market value of the inspected property.

(7) Before the execution of a contract to perform a home inspection, a licensee shall disclose to the client any interest in a business that may affect the client. No licensee shall allow his or her interest in any business to affect the quality or results of the inspection work that the licensee may be called upon to perform.

(8) Licensees shall not engage in false or misleading advertising or otherwise misrepresent any matters to the public.