ASHI STUDY GUIDE 2026 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
RATED A+
✔✔What are the fundamental principles embodied by this Code? - ✔✔integrity, honesty
and objectivity
✔✔Who adopted this Code to provide high ethical standards to safeguard the public
and the profession? - ✔✔Membership of ASHI
✔✔What should inspectors avoid? - ✔✔conflicts of interest or activities that compromise
or appear to compromise, professional independence, objectivity or inspection integrity
✔✔What should you do to comply with this code? - ✔✔avoid association with any
enterprise whose practices violate this code and strive to uphold maintain and improve
the integrity, reputation and practice of the home inspection profession
✔✔Who should inspectors act in good faith towards? - ✔✔each client and other
interested parties
✔✔ What shall the inspector inspect? - ✔✔Readily accessible, visually observable,
installed systems and components
✔✔What should the inspector provide to the client in a written report? - ✔✔- Systems
and components inspected that in your professional judgment are not functioning
properly, significantly deficient, unsafe or are near the end of their service lives
- recommendations to correct or monitor for future correction
- reasoning or explanation as to the nature of the deficiencies
- systems and components designated for inspection that were present but not
inspected and the reason why they were not inspected
✔✔What should the inspector adhere to? - ✔✔ASHI Code of Ethics for the Home
Inspection Profession
✔✔What does the Standard not intend to limit the inspector from doing? - ✔✔-including
other services or systems and components in addition to those required
- designing or specifying repairs, if qualified to do so
- excluding systems and components if requested or agreed to by the client
✔✔On Structural Components, what is the inspector required to inspect? - ✔✔structural
components including foundation and framing
✔✔What is the inspector required to describe when inspecting Structural Components?
- ✔✔- methods used to inspect under-floor crawlspaces and attics
- foundation
, - floor structure
- wall structure
- ceiling structure
- roof structure
✔✔What is the inspector not required to do when inspecting the Structural
Components? - ✔✔- provide engineering or architectural services or analysis
- offer an opinion about the adequacy of structural systems and components
- enter under-floor crawlspace areas that have less than 24inches of vertical clearance
between components and the ground or that have an access opening smaller than 16 in
by 24in
- traverse attic load-bearing components that are concealed by insulation or by other
materials
✔✔What should the inspector inspect on the exterior? - ✔✔- wall covering, flashing &
trim
- exterior doors
- attached and adjacent decks, balconies, stoops, steps, porches, and their associated
railings
- eaves, soffits, and fascias where accessible from the ground level
- vegetation, grading, surface drainage, and retaining walls that are likely to adversely
affect the building
- adjacent and entryway walkways,patios, and driveways
✔✔What should the inspector describe when inspecting the exterior? - ✔✔wall
coverings
✔✔What is the inspector not required to inspect on the exterior? - ✔✔- screening,
shutters, awnings and similar seasonal accessories
- fences, boundary walls, and similar structures
- geological and soil conditions
- recreational facilities
- outbuildings other than garages and carports
- seawalls, break-walls and docks
- erosion control and earth stabilization measures
✔✔What should the inspector inspect on roofing? - ✔✔- roofing materials
- roof drainage systems
- flashing
- skylights, chimneys and roof penetrations
✔✔What should the inspector describe when inspecting the roof? - ✔✔- roofing
materials
- methods used to inspect the roofing
RATED A+
✔✔What are the fundamental principles embodied by this Code? - ✔✔integrity, honesty
and objectivity
✔✔Who adopted this Code to provide high ethical standards to safeguard the public
and the profession? - ✔✔Membership of ASHI
✔✔What should inspectors avoid? - ✔✔conflicts of interest or activities that compromise
or appear to compromise, professional independence, objectivity or inspection integrity
✔✔What should you do to comply with this code? - ✔✔avoid association with any
enterprise whose practices violate this code and strive to uphold maintain and improve
the integrity, reputation and practice of the home inspection profession
✔✔Who should inspectors act in good faith towards? - ✔✔each client and other
interested parties
✔✔ What shall the inspector inspect? - ✔✔Readily accessible, visually observable,
installed systems and components
✔✔What should the inspector provide to the client in a written report? - ✔✔- Systems
and components inspected that in your professional judgment are not functioning
properly, significantly deficient, unsafe or are near the end of their service lives
- recommendations to correct or monitor for future correction
- reasoning or explanation as to the nature of the deficiencies
- systems and components designated for inspection that were present but not
inspected and the reason why they were not inspected
✔✔What should the inspector adhere to? - ✔✔ASHI Code of Ethics for the Home
Inspection Profession
✔✔What does the Standard not intend to limit the inspector from doing? - ✔✔-including
other services or systems and components in addition to those required
- designing or specifying repairs, if qualified to do so
- excluding systems and components if requested or agreed to by the client
✔✔On Structural Components, what is the inspector required to inspect? - ✔✔structural
components including foundation and framing
✔✔What is the inspector required to describe when inspecting Structural Components?
- ✔✔- methods used to inspect under-floor crawlspaces and attics
- foundation
, - floor structure
- wall structure
- ceiling structure
- roof structure
✔✔What is the inspector not required to do when inspecting the Structural
Components? - ✔✔- provide engineering or architectural services or analysis
- offer an opinion about the adequacy of structural systems and components
- enter under-floor crawlspace areas that have less than 24inches of vertical clearance
between components and the ground or that have an access opening smaller than 16 in
by 24in
- traverse attic load-bearing components that are concealed by insulation or by other
materials
✔✔What should the inspector inspect on the exterior? - ✔✔- wall covering, flashing &
trim
- exterior doors
- attached and adjacent decks, balconies, stoops, steps, porches, and their associated
railings
- eaves, soffits, and fascias where accessible from the ground level
- vegetation, grading, surface drainage, and retaining walls that are likely to adversely
affect the building
- adjacent and entryway walkways,patios, and driveways
✔✔What should the inspector describe when inspecting the exterior? - ✔✔wall
coverings
✔✔What is the inspector not required to inspect on the exterior? - ✔✔- screening,
shutters, awnings and similar seasonal accessories
- fences, boundary walls, and similar structures
- geological and soil conditions
- recreational facilities
- outbuildings other than garages and carports
- seawalls, break-walls and docks
- erosion control and earth stabilization measures
✔✔What should the inspector inspect on roofing? - ✔✔- roofing materials
- roof drainage systems
- flashing
- skylights, chimneys and roof penetrations
✔✔What should the inspector describe when inspecting the roof? - ✔✔- roofing
materials
- methods used to inspect the roofing
