The Maryland Home Inspectors Code of Ethics

COMMISSION OF REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS AND HOME INSPECTORS 

Authority: Business Occupations and Professions Article, §§ l6-208(a) and 16-216

.01 Responsibilities to the Public.

An inspector shall:
(1) act as an impartial third party;
(2) discharge the inspector's duties with integrity and fidelity to the public. with fairness, objectivity, and without bias to all parties;
(3) always act in good faith towards a client;
(4) express an opinion only when it is based on practical experience and personal knowledge;
(5) promptly inform a client of any business association, interest, or circumstance that may influence the inspector’s judgment or the inspector’s inspection service to the client; and
(6) make every effort to uphold. maintain and improve the professional Practice integrity and reputation of the home inspection industry.

A. An inspector may not:
(1) except under circumstances in which the safety or welfare of without the approval of the client for whom the inspection was performed;
(2) accept compensation, financial or otherwise, from more than one interested Party for the same service on the same property unless the inspector makes full disclosure to all interested parties+ and obtains the consent of all interested parties; or
(3)  accept or offer a commission or allowance, directly or indirectly to or from another party dealing with the client in connection with home inspection services for which the inspector is responsible.
B.  An inspector may not:
(1) sell or offer to sell products for the repair of defects or the correction  of deficiencies disclosed during and inspection of the client for period of one year from the date of the inspection; or
(2) provide or offer to provide services to repair defects or correct deficiencies disclosed during and inspection of the client for period of one year from the date of the inspection; or
(3) express an appraisal or opinion of the market value of the inspected property within the context of the inspection.

.03 Additional Services.

An inspection may provide additional inspection services to the client if the inspector discloses to the client that the additional inspection services are not part of the home inspection.

.04 Conflicts of Interest.

A. A home inspector shall avoid conflicts of interest with a client or an owner of property that is subject to an inspection by the inspector.
B. If a conflict appears unavoidable. the inspector shall disclose promptly and fully all circumstances of the conflict to the client.