Copy of ASTM E 2018 08

[Nick Gromicko]

This is a VERY important part of the International Standards of Practice for Inspecting Commercial Properties:

4.3 Varying Levels of Due Diligence

This Standard is designed as a baseline from which the inspector and client can develop and agree to a scope of work that may deviate from this Standard, depending on budget, time constraints, purpose of the inspection, age of the subject property, and risk-tolerance of the client. The level of due diligence should be set where the cost, in time and money, of acquiring information about the subject property will not likely exceed the value of that information. Therefore, an inspection performed in accordance with this Standard will not be technically exhaustive.

(especially the second sentence of that paragraph)

[Nick Gromicko]

The second sentence in that paragraph is YOUR DEFENSE should a plaintiff complain that you didn't find a defect because you failed to look for it (most common complaint regarding commercial inspectors). It is really important for your commercial SOP to contain that sentence.