Top Claims

If you’ve followed our series on the top claims against home inspectors, you know that most industry allegations involve errors or omissions, which mean they are filed against inspectors’ E&O coverage. (For those of you who’ve missed them, check our articles on the industry’s top claims here. We recommend starting with the Top 5 Claims.)…

Four months after completing an inspection, a home inspector received a series of text messages from his clients, the home buyers. In the texts, the inspection clients alleged that their home inspector had failed to report wood rot and subsequent leaks in seven windows on the property. The clients did not provide any information regarding…

Three months after completing an inspection, a home inspector received a letter from his client’s attorney demanding that he pay to repair “the failed septic system” and a number of other defects his clients had found in their new home. The letter ordered the inspector to inform his insurance company, so he did. But, since…

Four months after his inspection of an older home, a home inspector received a letter in the mail from his former clients, who, due to concerns about the age of their newly purchased and first home, had a licensed electrician assess the property’s wiring after the initial home inspection. According to the electrician, there were…

During a routine home inspection, one of our inspectors performed a visual inspection of the property’s furnace. In his report, he noted signs of condensation and a lack of proper maintenance. However, the furnace was functioning properly. A few days after the inspection, the inspector’s client—an attorney—claimed that the furnace had stopped working. As a…

While renovating the deck of their recently purchased home, some home inspection clients discovered wood rot plaguing their back deck. As contractors removed the old granite countertops (presumably for an outdoor kitchen) to replace them, the deck broke, revealing the deteriorated main beams and support stringers. Rather than continue with their deck expansion, the new…

Note: The following is a condensed version of a longer article, which we created for The Managing Risk column. The column reviews the most common allegations in the industry and provides tips to make inspectors better equipped to prevent claims. For the full version, read the original here. Over two years after performing a home and pest inspection,…

Note: The Managing Risk column reviews the most common allegations in the industry and provides tips to make inspectors better equipped to prevent claims. In a recent claim, claimants alleged that a home inspector failed to detect structural deficiencies in the property. The claimants alleged that the inspector failed to identify that the wrong sized…

Note: The Managing Risk column reviews the most common allegations in the industry and provides tips to make inspectors better equipped to prevent claims. Last fall, one of our home inspectors received a claim alleging that he failed to identify the existence of polybutylene pipes during his inspection of a condominium two months earlier. The…

Last year, we published an article featuring the top five claims home inspectors face each year and what you can do to mitigate your risk. One year later, those allegations—water damage, roof issues, foundation defects, mold, and plumbing problems—continue to be common. We revisit each claim type by looking at recent claims from our archives…