What a home inspection is
A home inspection is a visual check of the home’s readily accessible systems and components. We look at their condition on the day of the inspection, describe what we see and recommend further evaluation or repairs when appropriate. We do not open walls or inspect hidden or unsafe areas, and we cannot predict future problems or promise to find every issue.
Material Defect is a rating Kevin Prince uses in inspection reports in both Maryland and Pennsylvania. It describes a condition that, in the inspector's judgment, has a significant adverse impact on the value of the property or poses an unreasonable risk to people. A system or component near, at, or beyond its normal service life is not a material defect solely because of age.
In Pennsylvania, the term "material defect" is defined by 68 Pa.C.S. §7102 as a problem with the property that significantly affects its value or involves an unreasonable risk to people. A component's age alone does not make it a material defect. Pennsylvania's Home Inspection Law (Chapter 75) uses this statutory definition when addressing inspection reports.
Maryland's COMAR 09.36.07 uses the term "significantly deficient" rather than "material defect." Kevin Prince uses the Material Defect rating described above in both states so reports are consistent and easy to compare.
Which standard applies
Kevin Prince holds Maryland Home Inspector License #10-36115 and is an InterNACHI Certified Professional Inspector® (ID NACHI26022101). The inspection standard and state-specific requirements depend on where the property is located:
Applies to every inspection performed in Maryland.
This is a plain-language overview, not the complete legal standard. Always consult the current official Maryland COMAR text for controlling requirements.
Maryland Minimum Standards of Practice
Expand any system below to see what Maryland requires a licensed home inspector to inspect, describe, and where the standard does not require action.
What is outside the scope
A home inspection is not technically exhaustive and may not identify concealed conditions or latent defects. The Maryland standards do not require an inspector to:
- Determine condition of any system or component that is not readily accessible
- Determine remaining life of any system or component
- Determine strength, adequacy, effectiveness, or efficiency of any system or component
- Determine causes of any condition or deficiency
- Determine methods, materials, or costs of corrections
- Determine future conditions, including failure of systems and components
- Determine suitability of the property for any specialized use
- Determine property boundary lines or encroachments
We do not offer radon, mold, wood-destroying insect, sewer line, septic, drone, pre-drywall, or unfinished construction-phase inspections. These are not included in our services. The home inspection itself is not a warranty, insurance policy, or code-compliance certification. Our separately administered InterNACHI Buy-Back Program and Honor Guarantee benefits have their own eligibility requirements and terms, explained on our About page.
COMAR 09.36.07 · Minimum Standards of Practice — Maryland Home Inspectors. Chapter revised effective December 22, 2025.
Authority: Business Occupations and Professions Article, §§16-208(a), 16-216(2), and 16-701.1(a)(3) and (7), Annotated Code of Maryland
Kevin Prince is an InterNACHI Certified Professional Inspector® (ID NACHI26022101). Last revised October 2022. The InterNACHI Standards of Practice are the professional association standard Prince follows in Pennsylvania alongside applicable state law.
Read Pennsylvania’s Home Inspection Law (68 Pa.C.S. Chapter 75)