Standards Practice Exam
The Commission shall charge and collect the following fee for an original application for a Professional Inspectors license:
$120
Summarize in one sentence each of the 3 elements of the Code of Ethics.
-Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived -Act in good faith toward your clients and other interested parties -Avoid activities that may harm the public or discredit yourself or the profession
List 2 general limitations to home inspections
-Inspections are visual and not technically exhaustive -Inspections applicable to four family units or less and associated garages or carports
List 10 general exclusions to home inspections
-Life Expectancy -Causes of conditions -Methods, materials or costs of correction -Suitability of property for specialized use -Compliance with regulations -Market value -Advisability of purchase -Components or systems not observed -Presence of pests, including insects -Cosmetic items, underground items or items not permanently installed
List 13 things inspectors are not required to do as part of an inspection
-Offer or perform any service contrary to law -Offer warranties or guarantees -Offer engineering, architectural, plumbing or any other job function -Calculate the strength, adequacy or efficiently of a system -Enter areas or anything that may damage the property or be dangerous -Operate systems that are shut down -Operate systems that don't respond to their normal controls -Disturb insulation -Move any items, including furniture, equipment, plants, snow, soil or debris -Determine the presence of hazardous substances -Evaluate the effectiveness of systems that control hazardous substances -Predict future conditions -Evaluate arousal characteristics of components
What elements over and above the ten you have listed might be included in home inspection reports?
-Report Summary -Client Questionare -Maintenance tips -Filing Systems -Life cycle and cost estimates
List 10 common components of the body of the report
-Scope/Contract -Recommended actions -Descriptions -Limitations -Conditions or evaluations -Life expectancy -Causes of Conditions -Priorities -Implications of conditions -Ballpark costs
List 4 reasons written reports are needed.
-The Standards require it -To help the client -To control your liability -Marketing tool
List 4 components of written reports
-Things unsafe, inoperative or near the end of their lives -The implications of the deficiencies -The recommendations -What things were not inspected and why
Do the Standards of Practice require inspectors to report as deficient the lack of exhaust ventilators in required areas. What are the required areas for exhaust ventilators?
-Yes. At a minimum, bathrooms and water closets that do not have an operative window.
An inspector has ______ business days to respond to TREC when called upon to be a witness at a TREC hearing
10 days
What is the rule number that specifies Education and Experience requirements?
535.212
The commission shall mail renewal application at least how many days in advance to the last known permanent address
90
Define inspector within the context of the Standards of Practice
A person hired to examine any system or component of a building in accordance with SOP
In the reasonable judgment of the inspector, capable of being approached, entered, or viewed without hazard to the inspector, having to climb over obstacles, damaging property, permanent construction or building finish relates to the definition of?
Accessible
To detect potentially deadly carbon monoxide, a professional inspection should include checking:
All fuel-burning appliances for gas leaks and adequate ventilation
Where would (GFCI Outlets not in proper areas of kitchen, bathroom, exterior and garage) be located on the Inspection Report Form?
Branch circuits
Where would Conduit at water heater not Secure be located on the Inspection Report Form?
Branch circuits
Where would (Water Stains above Fireplace at ceiling) be located on the Inspection Report Form?
Ceiling and Floors
List 3 general types of report forms.
Checklist, Narrative and Combination
If found guilty of performing an inspection without having an inspector's license will result in a:
Class A misdemeanor
Where would (Low Temperature Differential of 10 degrees based on 57 degrees at supply and 67 degrees at Return) be located on the Inspection Report Form?
Cooling Equipment
Which components are required by the Standards?
Descriptions, conditions, and implications unless they are self-evident
Where would (Doors not closing properly at Hall Bath/ Hall Closet Front Entry Not Latch- ing) be located on the Inspection Report Form?
Doors (Interior and Exterior)
Where would (Dirty Disposable filter size 16x25x2) be located on the Inspection Report Form?
Ducts and Vents
A Real Estate Inspector's license allows you to perform wood destroying insect inspections
False
An inspector is required to operate a cooling system when the outdoor temperature is less than 60 degrees?
False
An inspector shall inspect properties under contingent arrangements whereby any compensation or future referrals are dependent on reported findings.
False
TREC cannot authorize an administrative penalty
False
The inspector is required to inspect heat pumps, in the heat pump mode, when the outdoor temperature is above 70 degrees
False
The inspector is required to provide an exhaustive list of locations of deficiencies and water penetration in exterior walls, doors, and windows.
False
The inspector is required to verify tonnage match of indoor coils or condensing units.
False
The inspector shall determine the presence of, or extent or type of, insulation or vapor barriers in exterior walls
False
The inspector shall not report as deficient any insulated windows that are obviously fogged or display other evidence of broken seals
False
The inspector shall not report as deficient missing or damaged window and doors screens
False
The inspector shall not report as deficient the absence of non-combustible hearth extension
False
The inspector shall not state in a written inspection report that the excluded part, component or system was not inspected
False
You can be a Real Estate Inspector and Real Estate Agent in the same transaction.
False
Where would major settlement in my opinion, suggest report by Structured Engineer; Cracks Evident, Be located on the Inspection Report Form?
Foundations
Where would (Dirty Blower/ Loose Fan observed) be located on the Inspection Report Form?
Heating and Cooling Equipment
Describe in one sentence what home inspection must provide for clients.
Inspections provide the client with information regarding the condition of the systems and components of the home inspected at the time of the home inspection.
Define technically exhaustive within the scope of home inspection
It includes dismantling, extensive use of measurements, instruments, testing or calculations
The Standards of Practice is the ________________ level of inspection an inspector may perform
Minimum
The inspector's _________________ must be written on the inspector's report.
Name and license number
May an inspector provide only an oral report if that is what the client wants?
No
List 2 delivery options for providing the report
On site reports & reports sent after the inspection
Where would (tree limbs touching shingles) be located on the Inspection Report Form?
Roof Covering
Where would (Circuit panel location (Kitchen Pantry and type of wiring) be located on the Inspection Report Form?
Service Entrance and Panels
The stage of construction when a new, building, addition, improvement, or alteration to an existing building is sufficiently complete that the building, addition, improvement or alteration can be occupied or used for its intended purpose is defined as?
Substantially completed
__________ may not act on a complaint of a license by the general public for more than 4 years after the incident in question
TREC
A comprehensive investigation beyond the scope of a real estate inspection which would involve determining the cause or effect of deficiencies, exploratory probing or discovery, the use of specialized knowledge, equipment or procedures is defined as?
Technically exhaustive
An application for a license may be denied if the Commission determines that applicant has failed to satisfy to the Commission, Honesty, trustworthiness and integrity?
True
An inspector is not required to determine the uniformity of conditioned air to the building
True
An inspector must render an opinion as to the performance of the foundation
True
An inspector should exclude any part, component or system, which the inspector is not competent or qualified to inspect
True
The committee may submit its written recommendations to the commission concerning licensing and regulation of real estate inspectors anytime
True
The inspector is not required to inspect sewer cleanouts when inspecting plumbing systems
True
The inspector shall advise the client at the earliest practicable time that the specific part, component or system will not be included in the inspection
True
The inspector shall manually test the installed and accessible smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
True
The inspector shall report a roof covering that is not appropriate for the slope of the roof.
True
The inspector shall report as deficient (except decks which are not higher than 30 inches as measured from the adjacent grade) spacing between intermediate balusters, spindles, or rails that permit passage of an object greater than four inches in diameter
True
The inspector shall report as deficient a crawl space that does not appear to be adequately ventilated
True
The inspector shall report as deficient any gas log lighter valves that do not function or leak gas
True
The inspector shall report as deficient any post tension cable ends that are not protected
True
The inspector shall report as deficient combustible materials within thirty inches above the cook top burners
True
The inspector shall report as deficient electrical cabinets and panel boards that are not accessible or do not have a minimum of 36 inches of clearance in front of them
True
The inspector shall report as deficient electrical cabinets and panel boards that are not accessible or do not have a minimum of 36" of clearance in front of them
True
The inspector shall report as deficient in condition and operation of exterior doors and garage doors, including door locks and latches when present
True
The inspector shall report as deficient weather stripping, gaskets or other air barrier materials, as well as, the condition and performance of windows in exterior walls, doors, and windows
True
The inspector shall report the energy source of a water heater
True
When inspecting exterior doors, locks and latches are included in the inspection
True
You can be the principal buyer and disclosed home inspector in the same transaction.
True
Where would (Water Stains at Left/Right side of Fireplace Hearth Area Walls) be located on the Inspection Report Form?
Walls (Interior and Exterior)
Do the Standards of Practice require inspector to report double-tapped neutral wires on a panel box terminal as deficient
Yes
I am not currently performing inspections, but I'd like to maintain my license. Is there a way for me to do that without going to the expense of obtaining insurance?
Yes
Is a licensed professional inspector responsible for the conduct of a licensed real estate inspector sponsored by the professional inspector?
Yes
Are there exceptions from the mandatory use of TREC report forms?
Yes. In addition to transactions in which a federal or state law requires use of a different form, the inspector is not required to use the TREC forms for quality control construction inspections of new homes, inspections of remodeling, re-inspections, or for inspections performed for a lender or a person other than the prospective buyer or prospective seller. An inspection of a building or addition that is not substantially complete or inspections of a single system or component as outlined in 535.223 and the first page of the report contains a notice substantially similar to the notice in 535.223
If none of the optional systems are being inspected, may the inspector delete all of the optional system page without a notation to that effect?
Yes. The notation required by the departure provisions of the Standards of Practice, 22 TAC §535.223, does not apply to the optional systems
inspector advertising Rule 535.221
an inspector may not engage in false or misleading advertising.
