Definition of a Property Inspector

Property inspectors examine building structures for potential safety hazards.

A property inspector examines the condition of a certain property, including buildings, homes and other structures. After a comprehensive inspection, the property inspector records and prepares a report of the details of the inspection. Property inspectors are required to be licensed or certified. The minimum education requirement to become an inspector is a high school diploma. However, many employers seek out candidates who have completed courses related to the field and have acquired prior experience.

Characteristics

There are various types of occupations that can be characterized under the term inspector. Property inspectors can specialize in a certain area. For instance, there are elevator inspectors, home inspectors, plumbing inspectors, electrical inspectors and more. As a whole, property inspectors are responsible for examining structures and the components attached to the structure, such as the fixtures, walls, windows, piping systems and electrical systems. Essentially, property inspectors assess the total layout of the building to determine whether it complies with the appropriate ordinances, building codes, zoning regulations and contract specifications. Property inspectors may also make further inspections to monitor the building structure and to ensure continued safety and compliance with the relevant building codes and standards. Additionally, property inspectors are not required to enforce compliance with any building codes and zoning regulations. However, they may disclose any possible safety hazards and recommend preventive measures.

Home Inspectors

Home inspectors are typically hired by present and potential owners of homes to assess the quality and overall condition of the home. Homeowners usually hire home inspectors to examine the home and identify potential hazards. During the inspection, they perform an assessment of the heating and cooling equipment, plumbing fixtures and electrical systems. They check for building code violations and evaluate the safety of the home and its constituents.

Plumbing Inspectors

Plumbing inspectors typically work at construction sites, residences and commercial buildings for the purpose of examining the piping systems. While examining the piping systems, plumbing inspectors check for the overall safety of the drinking water and gas to ensure compliance with the building codes.

Electrical Inspectors

Electrical inspectors examine the electrical systems in various building structures to evaluate the potential risks and overall safety of the electrical wiring, equipment and appliances. They ensure that the electrical systems within a building are in compliance with the electrical building codes.

Elevator Inspectors

Elevator inspectors tests and maintain elevators, escalators, railways and other people movers. They check for the general safety of the equipment.

Salary and Job Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics report that, in 2008, the average salary for building inspectors was $50,180. Due to the demand for public safety, the Bureau of Labor Statistics also report that employment is expected to grow by 2018. Moreover, individuals with training in related fields, such as engineering and architecture in addition to construction-related experience, will have a greater chance at obtaining a building inspector job than those without the related experience.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Construction and Building Inspectors
• State University: Building Inspector Job Description