Senate Bill 627 is short-sighted, attempting to be punitive without understandign the home inspection process. A home inspector's job is to asses the phsycial condition and mechanical function of a given home on the day of the inspection with the additional limitation of hindered visibility; home inspectors cannot remove fixtures, insulation, wall coverings, floor coverings, etc.

The wording of Bill 627 makes it possible for home buyers to inappropraitely declare a home inspector to be negligent for conditions not yet present at the time of the inspection or which were not detectabe during the inspection.

The proposed bill shows a lack of understanding of how the home inspection process works, specifically the limitations home inspectors encounter. Any legislators thinking of supporting this bill should take the time to familiarize themselves with the home inspection process in person. No two houses are the same. No two inspections are the same. Thereofre, a one-size-fits-all change to the liability of home inspectors does not make sense.

- Joe Wingenbach, American Society of Home Inspectors - Northern Virginia Chapter