Exclude and Exclusion
Why 'Disclaimer' Doesn’t Belong
There’s an odd moment in every home inspection report—the part where you have to tell the client what you didn’t inspect.
Not what you missed. Not what you forgot.
What you deliberately left out.It sounds backwards at first. But it’s one of the most important parts of the job.
Every inspector learns to document what they saw.
The real skill is in documenting what they planned not to see—and why.That’s where the words exclude and exclusion come in. And that’s also where things can go sideways if we reach for the wrong word—like disclaimer.
Exclude
To intentionally leave out or omit a system, component, area, or condition from the scope of a home inspection.
Exclusions may result from client agreements, safety concerns, accessibility issues, or because the item falls outside the inspector’s Standard of Practice.
Inspector Note:
The ability to clearly explain what is excluded—and why—is just as important as identifying what is present.
And yes, even when something was excluded on purpose, it still needs to appear in the report. Why?
For the sake of completeness—that charming little word that means “we left it out, but thoughtfully.”
Exclusion
A specific item, condition, or area not covered in a home inspection.
Exclusions are often listed in the pre-inspection agreement and again in the report. Because redundancy, in this case, is not only acceptable—it’s professional.
Common exclusions include underground piping, cosmetic finishes, or environmental hazards such as mold or asbestos.
Inspector Caution:
Clients often zero in on what is included. That’s natural.
But our duty is to be just as diligent in defining what is not—so there’s no confusion, no assumptions, and no surprises.
And Then There’s ‘Disclaim’
I don’t disclaim. I exclude. I explain.
A disclaimer is something you tack on when you’re trying not to get blamed.
It says, “Don’t hold me responsible for this.”
But in a profession built on trust and clarity, that’s not the tone we want to set.
Disclaimers tend to sound like legal fine print—hollow, protective, and a little too late.
Exclusions, on the other hand, are proactive. They’re decisions. They have reasons. They belong.
So no, I don’t disclaim.
I state the scope.
I define the limits.
I say what’s out—and why.
Because Inspecting Is a Practice. And So Is Writing.
Clarity isn’t just for the client. It’s for us, too.
If we can explain what we didn’t inspect with as much confidence as what we did, we’re doing the job right.
And as for disclaimers? They’re like those little packets in the shoebox that say Do Not Eat.
You don’t need them.
You just need to say what you saw, what you didn’t, and why.
One Last Word on Authority
Neither ASHI nor InterNACHI use the word disclaim or disclaimer in their Standards of Practice.
Instead, both organizations define exclusions—clearly, directly, and without legal fog.
They ask us to state what wasn’t inspected, and why. That’s it.
So if you're relying on a “disclaimer” to shield your report, consider this: the profession itself doesn’t use the word.
It trusts clarity over cover. And so do I.
The inspector’s disclaimer said, “I’m about to tell you something important, but please don’t take it too seriously because I’m not licensed to know it.”