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     According to PA Act 114 of 2000, a home inspection is intended to identify “material defects”. The Act defines a material defect as “a problem with a residential real property or any portion of it that would have a significant adverse impact on the value of the property or that involves an unreasonable risk to people on the property”.
     With that said, this home inspector may choose to identify a defect in the home as a “Major Problem” because the cost to repair or replace it may be expensive, but it doesn’t affect the “value of the property”. There is a fine line between inspecting to “the letter of the law” and reporting on something as significant because of the cost of repair. Sometimes realtors get mad at home inspectors for identifying a repair as a “Major Problem” because it does not meet the definition of a “material defect” as defined in PA Act 114 of 2000.
     Everyone in the home buying/selling process should understand the home inspector works for the buyer and is paid to protect their interests. I encourage realtors and home sellers to understand this point of view because its my responsibility to meet my client’s expectations.